Maldene II: Mysteries Of Olde

Tall and black of skin, muscles bulging through scale-studded furs, bright blue sun glistening off large ebony arms, bald head reflecting mid morn light entering through stone-lined window. Friendly smile upon the big man's face, right arm resting lightly upon the magically-runed sword kept safely strapped within the sheath at his side. Careful regarding eyes, gazing down upon the new recruit before him.

"Well, we certainly can use the man-power, " Baldegron nodded, "especially experienced help such as your own. What rank did you say you held in your last employ?"

The dark-faced man brushed back a lock of dark hair with a wave of his hand, a humble expression creasing its way across his stubble-covered chin. His eyes showed just slight eagerness, as if ever ready to be of service, as he gave answer.

"I was a full captain, sir, " came his not-quite-deep not-quite-gravely voice, "but it was in a rather small army. In such an army as that which you lead, I would expect nothing more than lieutenant."

Baldegron looked the man up and down as he stood there at attention in front of him. Baldegron walked slowly back to the iron-wood desk of his small office before swiftly turning around on heel to face the dark-haired man once again.

"Lieutenant it shall be then, my good Mister Gormal, " Baldegron gave him a good-natured slap on the shoulder, "you'll be assigned under Captain Starke. How soon can you start?"

"Immediately, if it would please you sir."

"Please me it would, " Baldegron smiled. "Consider yourself in the King's Army then. The sergeant will show you where to report to."

"Thank-you, General Baldegron, " the dark-haired man nodded, "I shall serve to the best of my abilities."

"Sergeant, " the large man called out, "show this man to Captain Starke's regiment. Okay, who's next?"

As the next potential officer stepped up to Baldegron, the sergeant led the dark-haired unshaven man away through the barracks and down and out into the open orain-colored skies of Th?r Glomd?ita?or. They walked across the early spring morning, tall white towers shining around them, the sergeant making small-talk about Captain Starke's growing abilities as a leader, while other troops bustled about them. The dark-haired man ignored the sergeant's ramblings as he thought to himself; thought about the master which he loyally served.

Inwardly, he smiled.

Oh, he served a master all right, but not that fool of a King for which he'd just been recruited. No, the lord he served was of a darker, much more sinister heart.

Darker, even, than this assassin's own.

BOOK I:

The Map

Flash of flaming steel, rapid thump of fist crunching through bone. Cry of triumph, twinkle of silvery-blue eyes, a blur whirling past one opponent after another. Mid-rise sun shining down upon fresh blood as it flies about through the air.

"Come on, " Eldar called out as he slammed aside a man examining a small blade, "let a person through!"

He raised his flaming sharp Evolin sword at the next one in front of him, a battle-scarred warrior who raised his own sword up in defense, thrusting it up to block Eldar's own blow. Unfortunately the warrior's blade was but of normal steel, while Eldar's sword of flame tore through it, reducing it to a multitude of metal droplets scattered upon the winds. Eldar rushed by, to finally reach his objective.

He leaned up against the booth's front counter, taking a moment or two to catch his breath as, with a flick of his wrist, his sword vanished from sight.

"My good shop-keeper, " he smiled with a light toss of his silvery hair, "I'll take that one over there."

The grizzled old man inside the small booth nodded noncommittally, turned on heel, and walked to the back wall and its display of weapons.

"Do you have any idea, " Eldar said conversationally, "how many crowds you attracted with this one-rise sale of yours? Every mercenary in town must be coming here."

"There are easier ways of getting to the front of the line, you know."

Eldar turned to see Lindel now suddenly standing beside him, the other elf's hair shining golden in the sunlight, his ever-present bow slung over his shoulder.

Eldar looked down at his own recently blood-stained tunic and compared it to Lindel's clean one. He then looked back at the line behind him. They were in a large open courtyard of a town's business-district, a small multitude of open-air cloth and wood shops clustering about the larger wooden structures of the district. The square was full of shoppers and vendors all in the midst of their shopping and selling activities, but now all stopped almost in mid-step as they looked as one over at Eldar. Arrayed in front of the small booth in front of which Eldar and Lindel now stood, was the line, perhaps twenty men deep, which had apparently formed while each awaited his turn as customer at the same booth.

But, perhaps what the crowd actually stared at was the swath that Eldar had left as he'd fought his way to the front of the line. A ragged chorus of groans, cries of pain, and muttered curses were the only sound that greeted the ears as Eldar looked down the line of bodies. Men tossed aside with still-burning slashes across their sides, some fallen to their knees as they tended large purpling bruises, one man in obvious pain nursing a twisted ankle, another one further down gasping for air from a punch to the throat. It was an open scar cut through the crowd, with twenty assorted men tossed to either side, all leading up to the booth with the sign hanging overhead that read 'Tabor's Weapons- SALE', the booth being in front of a more stable larger structure whose sign read 'Tabor's Weapon Shop'.

"Well, " Eldar shrugged, "I just wanted to be the first one to the sale. It's not like I killed any of them."

"Eldar, do you know what the words responsible or over-kill mean?"

"Hmm, " Eldar got a thoughtful look on his face. "No, I don't think so..."

Lindel shook his head as the shop-keeper brought up the chosen weapon. Eldar flashed out a quick smile to the crowd, which then found reason to stop gawking and continue on about their business. Eldar turned to examine the small weapon that the shop-keeper held wrapped in silk.

"Besides, I just wanted to make sure I got here in time to buy it, " Eldar said as he gazed down, "it's the perfect present."

"What makes you think that?" Lindel asked.

"Simple; I had Sheil-Bor(h) perform a vision about where I could find the best present for the kid, and he told me here. Oh, he'll love it."

Held within the cloth was a single long dagger, its handle made of curved pearl and carved with stylized designs of great beasts on it, the blade reaching out almost a full foot to its curved white tip, its edge catching the sunlight in a small rainbow.

"So, " Lindel said, "you had Sheil-Bor(h) pick out the present for you."

"No, of course not, " Eldar corrected. "I already knew that I wanted to get Kilgar a nice dagger, I just asked Sheil-Bor(h) where I might find the best made one available. Sabu is then going to help me put a few spells on it and I'm going to add a touch of alchemy to it. By the time we're finished, it'll not only look beautiful, but it'll be the best knife he's ever owned. You know how he and his Destir attitude is: it has to function in battle before he'll even look at it."

"Well, it does have a certain deadly sal?e to it, " Lindel admitted. "And you're right; the first thing he'll do is test it out in battle."

"Good balance, " Eldar said, hefting it in one hand. "How much?"

"Seven gold, " the old shop-keeper's grizzled voice came back.

"Sold, " Eldar fished out a pouch and reached in it for some coins. "Wrap it up nice and carefully."

As the shop-keeper carefully wrapped up the blade in its silk, Eldar looked at Lindel, mild puzzlement on his face.

"Say, how did you make it to the front of this line?"

"I just came around from the other side of the booth and cut in front, " Lindel shrugged, "less of a blood bath that way."

Eldar frowned a bit as he thought this over, handing the coins to the old man in exchange for the silk bundle. Then he suddenly broke into a smile.

"Yeah, but my way was more fun!"

They turned and walked back down the double-aisle of wounded, Eldar holding his bundle and smiling to each in turn as they cringed back away from him.

"You just don't like to do things the simple way, do you?" Lindel asked.

"Now where would the fun be in that?"

Puff of smoke, crackle of electricity, flash of light.

The smell of fresh sea breeze, the bustling sounds of a small port village.

"I think you need to work on that spell a bit more, " Lindel observed, the static electricity still making his long golden hair stand on end, "for one thing we're way down by the docks."

Eldar, hair likewise standing on end, looked around to discover that they were indeed down by the docks. The small beach alcove held two wooden piers, each jutting out long into the water. Beside one pier was a long sleem, its hemispherical sails folded in, docked and awaiting her next trip. Thirdocian sailors bustled around the place, going about the sleem, the few small buildings that lined the edge of the beach, and the one small tavern in the middle of the small port village. Eldar smiled inwardly as he remembered that it was at his own insistence that they include a tavern by their little docking facility.

"Hey, I'm getting better, " Eldar insisted as he used his hands to try and brush down his hair, "at least this time I landed us on shore."

"True, " Lindel admitted, likewise straightening out his own golden locks, as they started walking along the beach-front street, "but I still think you need to take a few more lessons from Sabu."

"Yeah, " Eldar pondered, "he seems to be taking to my alchemy lessons faster than I'm taking to his magic lessons. I wonder if I can make up a potion to fix that..."

Sailors and elves alike walked by them along the narrow street, each to his own duties, the Thirdocians keeping a dedicated eye on their sea-worthy charges, the elves taking the time to nod at Lindel and Eldar as they passed them by. Overhead the sun was a bright blue within a shining trüb-colored halo, beaming down its early Fall rays. Not many feet away, the sea lapped gently upon the foot-worn sandy shore of the island they'd named Ha?kldalnsa.

Eldar quickly left off his pondering and breathed in deeply of the air- a fresh mixture of the nearby sea and the tall pines of the island. He waved back at a passing elf- was it only a few motabs ago that they'd rescued them from their lives at Th?r T?orca? Now, they lived about the forest like it had been their home all along.

"Ah, it's rises like this that make me forget about the rest of the world, " Eldar said as he nodded to a stern-faced Thirdocian.

"Yeah, " Lindel agreed, "almost makes you forget that there even is a Miro."

"Oh, why'd you have to bring up his name for?! It's too good a day for thoughts like that. Let's not spoil Kilgar's birthrise with thoughts like that."

The narrow road came to the end of the small line of buildings and curved suddenly inland. They followed along its length as it now carried them on into the woods of their island, along the edge of the island's small row of ragged hills.

"I must say you've done wonders with this forest, " Eldar remarked, "it's hard to believe that under a rel ago this thick mass of tall trees was nothing more than a sickly bare carpet of sticks."

"The trees had the potential within them all along, " Lindel answered. "It was all just a matter of convincing the trees of that."

Overhead they saw a large figure spread out its long leathery wings as it rode a thermal up ever higher. The leathery figure was followed along by another of its kind as they played tag in the Fall sun. Fluttering out of range of their gay activities were three other flying figures, but these of a more human-shape and with a thick carpeting of brightly-colored feathers in place of leathery wings, their hawkish eyes staring out down the length of their beaks as they watched their flying charges.

"Those dragons sure are growing up fast, " Eldar said as he looked up at their frolicking, "pretty soon they will be big enough for Bronto to ride."

"At least they're growing up in the type of life they were meant to have, not the mockery of a life that the Dragon Lord would have upon them."

"Yeah, you're right on that one, " Eldar agreed.

The echo of a distant cry interrupted their exchange. A shout followed by a sudden crash, as if of a giant power-diving into the side of a mountain. This was followed by another roar.

"What was that?" Lindel asked, reflexively reaching for his bow.

"Hold on a tid- I think it may not be as deadly an intention as you think." Eldar slapped the other elf on the shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. "Come on."

Eldar broke into a quick jog, Lindel giving a shrug of his shoulders and following along behind. They ran down along the road as it carried them around a jutting leg of the nearby mountain. Around and into a widening clearing formed as a pocket of mutual consent between mountain and forest. They both stopped as they saw the two behemoths that were fighting in the clearing.

One, a large ogre, almost ten feet tall and weighing over a ton, old skulls hanging from his belt, as he picked himself up from the newly-made hole in the side of the mountain, brushing some stray pebbles off his thick hairy hide.

Opposite him was a single large man, grinning broadly, hands on his hips as he watched the ogre pick himself up. His dark hair fell almost to his shoulders as his white-skinned muscles flexed in the sunlight. He let out with a loud chuckle.

"I fear, my friend, that your strength is not nearly so great as that large round belly of yours!"

The ogre stood up, anger on his face as he looked up to his opponent.

"Blag-ak squash small man like bug! Make him stop laughing."

The large ogre then charged straight at the other man, determination on his primitive features. The man just stood there, seeming to await the enormous impact of the ogre.

"See, " Eldar pointed out, "I told you it was nothing serious..."

Just as the ogre was about to hit, the man swerved aside, his one hand catching the ogre by a thick fold of hide on his chest, while his other hand levered up the large ogre with a punch to his stomach. Before the ogre knew what was happening, he was being spun round and round overtop of the large man's head. Whirling the one-ton ogre around like he was but a child's toy, the large man finally sent him flying through the air, to land with a crash up against the side of the mountain, sliding down in a rain of pebbles and small boulders.

"...It's only Bronto and Blag-ak having fun, " Eldar finished as the fight ended.

Bronto walked over to the pile of rocks, a loud chuckle erupting from his large chest. Slowly, the pile stirred as Blag-ak poked his head out from amidst it.

"My friend, " Bronto smiled as he offered out his hand, "me thinks it's time we both had a nice stout drink. What do you say?"

Blag-ak shook his head loose of rocks and looked up at Bronto. Finally a smile crossed the ogre's large face as he slapped an arm against Bronto's own.

"Blag-ak like drink with friend!" Blag-ak rose up to his feet, shaking Bronto's arm, tossing aside the small boulders like they were just pebbles.

"Just so long as you two don't miss the party, " Eldar said as he and Lindel walked up to the two, "it'll be the first real celebration the kid's had put on for him."

"Oh don't worry about that!" Bronto said jovially. "I already have his present ready. What about you?"

"Got it right here, " Eldar touched the silk-wrapped bundle in his belt, "and you don't want to know what I had to go through to get it."

"I think it's more like what the townsfolk had to go through for you to get it, " Lindel corrected him.

"Hey, " Eldar lightly admonished, "they were in my way."

"Sounds like you had your usual brand of fun, " Bronto grinned as they all started up along the road.

"However you want to call it, " Lindel pointed out, "we'd better get it up to Sabu to fix up while we still have time."

"How come you just didn't go there directly, " Bronto asked, "I thought Sabu taught you that teleport spell of his?"

Eldar shrugged with a slight twinge of guilt.

"I missed, " he admitted.

"He didn't land us in the ocean this time though, " Lindel added.

"Well, you're improving then!" Bronto slapped him on the back.

"Hey, be careful with that, " Eldar said lightly, "my bones aren't made like Blag-ak's you know."

"Come on, " Bronto chuckled, "we've a party to get ready."

Excerpt from Sabu's diary-

R.K.: 9, 991, 26 Planeop:

We've been working on our little island for several motabs now. It's hard to believe that it was just at the end of last Fall that we were in Th?r T?orca about ready to die, wondering if we had fallen too far into Miro's trap. Now though, it's all different. Our island has turned into a community. Fawsil's people have made of the forest a true home, with their Nature-grown houses in the trees; trees nurtured by Lindel's own hand. Likewise, Narudwa and his hawkmen, or the K?ecian as they refer to themselves, have called our small range of mountains home, filling in the niches in the cliffsides as both our neighbors and our guardians, ever respectful of Bronto's heritage; I think, though, that even without Bronto's Old-Kingdom blood ties they would still respect him as a true warrior. We have had no trouble with any of them as neighbors, indeed we've become quite the little community. Even the dragon hatchlings are well-behaved, what between Lindel's nurturing and Bronto's Dragon Sword. I do believe that that big man can hardly wait to mount one of those great beasts in flight.

Of course, to say that all has been entirely peaceful would be to only scratch the surface. True, it has been calm while we've built up our stronghold here, and Sindar, Eldar, and myself have had time to study the dimensio-books we got from Devoon, but there are still several underlying facts that keep me awake at times.

The most general one would be the fact that Miro is still out there and we have no idea of his plans. But, even putting that aside as a given background problem, and putting aside the problems of what we may be building our stronghold for, there is still a problem that me and Sindar have been unable to solve.

That of the map. The strange map that we'd found inside Th?r T?orca remains unsolved. While we have been able to finally match up some of the land masses drawn on the map with known continents, the symbols and writing on it remain a complete mystery to us. Not to mention the apparent indestructibility of its paper, the durability of its ink, and a thousand other details of why this map shouldn't exist after so long.

That is, if we could even figure out how old it is.

Perhaps it is nothing, but the more I study that map, the more I'm led to believe that it could be the most important find we made on our trip to Th?r T?orca. A true satmo indeed.

Then there is the puzzle of the Hevon Gems. While we've been experimenting with their use and function, their true origin and purpose still remain a mystery. The dimensio-books have shed little light on this matter, not to mention how many different types there are in a complete set and what happens when one does obtain a complete set. We know little more about these Gems than when we'd found the first one of Fire. Little more, than that they appear to be attaching themselves to our souls.

And how do those three nameless beings fit into all of this. We've seen them but a few times and know virtually nothing about them. What really are they and what do they want of us? I've been thinking over what they'd said on our last encounter with them and am truly apprehensive over the conclusions I've come to.

Well, enough of theorizing. Today Kilgar turns ten. Still a young boy even by the measure of his people's own strict standards, and he's never had a proper birthrise celebration. During his last one we'd been in the middle of making our way to Th?r T?orca and only learned of it by a casual comment he'd made. Well, I didn't forget and this time he's going to celebrate it properly. Eldar and I have already started working on his present and should have it ready by this mid-rise's celebration. We're going to make sure that he has at least oneordinarytime in his childhood.

Because, I fear that none of us have any ordinary times left.

"You've got to help me, " the man in the richly-dressed robes pleaded.

The town guard gazed his battle-hardened face down at the man crying all over his tunic. He looked to be one of the city's rich, a chief member of the merchant's guild if he remembered right. Pillar of the community and all that; a serious man that has been known to do anything for a piece of gold. The kind of man that picks up enemies the way most people pick up dirt on their shoes- and with as little regard for them.

But definitely not the type of man to go pleading at the end of a town-guard's outer tunic.

"Please!" the rich man was practically sobbing. "He's after me. You've got to help me. I'll pay anything!"

The guard was puzzled; the merchant looked hysterical! Was this the same man that had so dispassionately foreclosed on that old family-owned leather shop just last kev? The man was unhinged.

"Now calm down Mister Saldor, " the guard said as he tried removing the man from his tunic, "the Law is here to help everyone. Now just calm down and tell me the problem."

"He's after me!" The man's eyes were wide with terror. "Or, maybe it's a them or an IT- I don't know. But it's after me! You've got to help me!"

"Who, Mister Saldor?" The guard was determined to get a proper noun out of him. "Who's after you?"

Mister Saldor looked around furtively, like some trapped animal trying to hide from its hunter. If one could smell fright, then this man was reeking of it.

"The-, " Mister Saldor swallowed and started again. "The Black Dagger!"

Now it was the guard's turn to go pale. He'd heard of the Black Dagger's quickly growing reputation. A reputation that ended in certain death if he was after you, and not even a good wizard could tell how it was done. The man, if that's what the Black Dagger really was, was downright spooky!

And he didn't sign on for that type of duty.

"Uh, listen Mister, " the guard removed the rich man's hand rather abruptly from the hem of his tunic, "I'm sorry for you and all, but I don't get paid nearly enough for this sort of stuff. If you still have any family members left in this world that care for you, I'll notify them of your passing, but that's it!"

The guard had to practically kick the man away from him, the rich man crying and pleading all the while. It's not that the guard was of the type given easily to fright- he'd survived three wars after all- it was just that there was something unnatural about the Black Dagger. Now matter how one tried, the victim would always end up with that same dagger in his chest that he'd been given earlier, and always at least somewhat public before the same murder weapon would disappear just as mysteriously as it had showed up at the victim's doorstep. No, this was something the guard would not mess with.

"PLEASE!!!"

"Sorry sir, " the guard backed quickly away, "I truly am."

The guard took one last look at the man, rich robes fluttering about him as he sat there on his haunches, practically crying upon the ground. The guard then hurried away, and mister Saldor suddenly discovered that there were no longer any on-lookers around him.

"Please, " mister Saldor called out into the air, "I'll pay you double whatever you're getting. Triple even! I've got the money; I'm good for it, really! Please!"

An almost silent creak drew his attention off in the direction of a nearby alley. There he saw the shadowy outline of a tall lean figure, a pinpoint gleam of red shining out from something long and pointed held within the figure's hand. The man recognized the sharp obsidian edge of what the figure held.

"No! I destroyed that thing! You can't have it now. It's impossible!"

The man staggered quickly to his feet and began backing up, shaking his head in repeated negation.

"It can't- can't- can't..."

Mister Saldor then turned and bolted, running blinding away from the dark figure. Across the street he went and then down a smaller side street; a side street with no one on it, nothing around.

Except for a single slender foot that reached out and casually tripped the fleeing rich man. He went tumbling forward, fright in his eyes, as he headed down into a pile of trash. He hit with a sudden jerk, his arms and legs flailing out for a brief spasmodic instant, before he stopped. He then quietly rolled off the top of the pile of trash and settled onto his back, eyes fixed in a permanent gaze. The gaze of a dead man.

There was a single-cut black obsidian dagger buried hilt-deep into his chest, slicing down right through his heart. Right where he'd fallen on it.

A small slender figure stepped over beside the dead figure, covered head to toe in a tight-fighting dark suit, even down to the gloved hands. The figure looked down at the handiwork before speaking in a soft feminine whisper.

"I so love this work."

"I couldn't agree more, " the dark figure from the alley came up next to her, a full head taller than was she.

"All I had to do was trip him, " the female said, "he was just so frightened."

"Our reputation is doing some of our work for us now, " the taller figure said.

"Bedor's spells don't hurt either, " she observed, then got a bit thoughtful. "You know, he's sticking to our agreement right now, but I think at least one of us should start learning some magic of our own; we shouldn't become too dependant on anyone else. Not even Bedor."

"You make a good point, my Lady Of The Knife, " the dark male figure said with a slight smile in his voice, "as usual. Dependency could be a weakness."

"Except between us of course, " she said as she put a gloved hand around his waist.

"I've always seen faithfulness as an admirable trait in a wife, " he said, "but we have a fee to collect."

"Oh, after we do, can we stop by one of the stores? I want to get the kid a present."

"I suppose we could, but why bother?"

"It's always good to keep people's respect, especially in our line of work, " she shrugged. "After all, he didn't and look where it got him."

She nudged the body with a booted toe.

"I guess we can squeeze it in then, " he conceded. "We'll come back for the dagger after the body's found. Come on."

And with nary a wisp of air the two figures were gone, now just but silent figures leaping from one stone rooftop to another, over the stone maze that is the Harbor Of The World.

The pentagram glowed as it resisted the small demon locked within it. The three-foot leathery creature looked up at the yellow-skinned wizard on its outside.

"Stop resisting and report, " Mauklo said calmly, "or you'll end up like my other pets."

He nodded towards several jars arrayed on a table next to him. In each one was a creature; miniaturized figures of demons, wraiths, ghosts, and what was left of one particularly malevolent spirit. All securely held prisoners within their miniature cages.

"Okay, okay, " squeaked back the small demon, "I'll cooperate. He's getting all the daemons together into a single massive army."

"What about the demons and their ilk."

The small demon shrugged.

"If you control the demons Lords, then you control the demons. And He controls the Lords, " the little one answered, and then added quickly, "but you didn't hear that from me!"

"Of course not, " Mauklo said amiably. "And I'm sure that you won't tell anyone what you just told me."

"Why, " the small demon danced nervously from one foot to the other, "why would I ever do that? Of course I won't."

"Oh, " Mauklo said as he reached for an empty jar, "of course you won't."

"Uh look, I promise to keep quiet, " the imp said with more than a bit of nervousness in its voice. "You don't have to do this."

"Oh, have no fear, " Mauklo reassured pleasantly. "When I am powerful enough that I have little to fear from loose lips, then I will release you to serve me freely."

Mauklo unscrewed the jar and began waving a hand over it as he aimed it towards the demon.

"In the meantime I can't take the chance that you might go running off to Him."

"Really, " the imp waved his hands in front of him as a grey smoke began to come out of the jar and encircle him, "I won't do that!"

"It's also possible that He might find you and make you talk, " Mauklo continued calmly, as the smoke wrapped itself around the imp, muffling his quiet screams of protest, "another chance I can't take."

With a sudden whoosh, the small demon quickly found himself inside the little jar, grey smoke and all. It looked up to see Mauklo screwing shut the lid and sealing it with wax and engraved runes. With a sigh, it sat down in the jar as Mauklo put in up on the shelf with the others.

"So, " Mauklo said to himself, "he's gathering some Lower Planar help. And apparently a lot of it. That must mean he's preparing for a rather large war. With what else he seems to have prepared I'd say it's globe-spanning at the very least."

Knock knock.

"Come in, Kilinir, " Mauklo said, without even looking up.

The door opened to reveal Kilinir standing just outside, now no longer dressed in her black jumpsuit, the dim room lighting reflecting off her smooth olive-colored skin.

"How'd you know?" she asked as she walked in, the door closing by itself behind her.

"Just another one of several new tricks I've been working on, " Mauklo smiled. "So, how was your last mission?"

"No problem, " she said as she walked over towards a free chair and sat down, "just the usual frightened victim too scared to think straight. We even had time to get Kilgar a present. You getting him anything for his Birthrise?"

"Yes, " Mauklo said, with forced pleasantness, "I'm letting him live."

"Oh, you're just so sweet, " Kilinir smiled, almost mockingly. "You know, if you got them to like you more, they may not care too much what you're up to."

"Ah, but that's just the thing, " Mauklo smiled, "I don't want them to like me too much nor to desire to get too close. I want them to keep just the distance they've been keeping. Trusting me just enough to keep me around, but not enough to let me out of their sight."

"This has to do with Sindar's vision, " Kilinir observed.

"Correct, " Mauklo replied. "With me as an apparent hinge-point in his vision, I want to be in just the right position to either help or hinder them, depending on how History and Circumstance unfold."

"A lovely self-serving attitude if ever I heard one, " Kilinir smiled as she stood up. "Well, if you want to keep walking the edge, then you might want to at least put in an appearance at the party. It's just in a little over a nev."

"I will endeavour to keep to my fine line, " Mauklo said mildly.

"Good to hear it, " Kilinir walked over to the door, then stopped in the doorway and turned back, "after all, Kor and I wouldn't want you to stumble in the wrong direction, now would we."

Mauklo chuckled inwardly at such an implied threat coming from the smiling and deceptively-pleasant figure of Kilinir. She and Kor-Lebear were indeed quite a pair. And a rather useful pair at that. Indeed.

"You have nothing to worry about, my good lady. And I shall try to put in an appearance at the party."

Kilinir gave a smile and quick nod of her head and then was gone, the door closing slowly after her. Mauklo leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers together. Oh yes, he would indeed put in an appearance.

"Here, me and Sabu got you this, " Eldar passed over the silk-wrapped bundle.

Kilgar's face was a mix of expressions. The brave Destir part of him tried to remain stoically impassive, while the boy in him that never had a chance to express itself was trying to find a way to jump up in gleeful anticipation.

"I'm... not sure what to say, " he hesitated. "I've never had a birthrise party before, much less presents."

"There's my lad, " Bronto chuckled, "he's faced unspeakable horrors and beasts that would make most men quake in fear, and he can't handle the basics of childhood. Just open it my boy! And be happy with what you've got or not, as the mood suits you."

They were in their castle's main room, a large room with a scattering of furniture, carpets, and floating globes of light slowly dancing along the ceiling. They were all there, the ceiling having been made tall enough even for Blag-ak's large form. They all watched as Kilgar carefully unwrapped the silk bindings and beheld what was within.

Kilgar grabbed hold of the knife by its long pearl handle, carved as it was with great beasts entangled in battle. He looked along the blade's foot-long edge as it curved up to its sharp point.

"It, " he hesitated just a bit, "looks nice."

"Well, try it before you get all emotional on us, " Eldar prompted, with just a bit of sarcasm in his voice.

Kilgar took a couple of test swings with it, feeling for its balance. Only after the first swing did he start to smile.

"It feels perfectly balanced, " he said as he took another swing.

"It is, " Sabu explained, "and it should be sharp enough to cut through rock."

Still testing it, Kilgar sliced once at the edge of the strong iron-wood table at which they were seated. As easily as it might through butter, it cleaved through the table's edge, leaving a chunk of dark wood to plunk upon the ground.

"Wow, " Kilgar finally said, "that's sharp!"

"I told you he wouldn't be happy unless it fought well, " Eldar smiled over at Sabu.

"And the blade's nearly as long as my arm, " Kilgar's eyes went wide. "Thanks!"

"Maybe now you can toss away that old knife of yours now, " Lorel said, from where he sat. "You don't need that little thing anymore."

"Oh no, " Kilgar got suddenly serious, "I can't ever throw that away."

"Why not?" Lorel asked as he saw the boy grab defensively onto the much smaller curved knife at his belt.

"When Destir are old enough to fight, " Sabu explained, "which is about the time they're able to walk, they're given a knife made from a tooth of one of the great beasts of the desert."

"No one gave it to me, " Kilgar said, "I plucked it out of the creature's carcass myself! It is a symbol of my first kill."

"And they do this after they learn how to walk?"Lorel was more than a bit amazed.

"You ought to see what I have to do when I come of age in a few rels, " Kilgar smiled as he held up his new knife.

"Uh, yeah, " Lorel said doubtfully, "call it a hunch, but have Miro's forces ever encroached upon the deserts of the Destir?"

"No, that's the one place where he's never successfully gotten a foothold, " Sindar answered.

"I kind of thought so, " Lorel nodded.

"Here." The honey-blond slim form of Dwingale stood up and walked over to Kilgar. Holding out her hand, she placed down on the table in front of him a small bundle wrapped in blue-colored paper and tied with a golden ribbon. "A present from the forests of my people. Something to remind you of what you would fight for and of what you should live for."

Kilgar carefully sheathed his new knife in his belt, and took up the small bundle. Carefully, he unwrapped the present and revealed Dwingale's present.

"A flower?"

Kilgar looked at the delicate golden petals, reflecting softly the light from the globes floating overhead. Its stem seemed frail and unsupportive, yet neither would it sway under the overburdening weight of its large blossom.

"The beauty of that flower shall never fade, never dry out, " Dwingale explained, "like the beauty of Life, it will never wilt. Crush it as you may, it will always return to the same delicate shape that you see before you now. Let it be a reminder that the simplicity of life is what you should preserve, both within and without yourself."

"Thank-you, " Kilgar said, with a seriousness unmatched by his age, "I will."

Dwingale smiled, her eyes sparkling out through her milk-white skin. She then walked over to sit down beside Eldar.

"We're next, " Kilinir spoke up, passing over a bundle to Kilgar. "This is from me and Kor."

"By all that's Indra, you two giving the kid a present?" Candol asked puzzledly.

"Now, why ever would we not?" Kilinir said with a twinkle in her eyes.

"It's probably poisoned or something, " Quickfoot commented from where he sat atop the table.

Kilgar took out his new knife and carefully worked its blade along the edge of the paper bundle. When nothing sprang out at him, he unwrapped it.

"A sheath, " Kilgar declared.

"We'd heard of what Eldar was going to get you, " Kor-Lebear said smoothly, "and knew he wouldn't think to get you something to put it in. Happy birthrise."

"Thanks, " Kilgar said, after some hesitation.

As the boy strapped his new sheath to his belt, and tested it for size with his new dagger, Eldar turned towards Kilinir and Kor-Lebear.

"You two just love to keep people off balance, " he said as Kor-Lebear gave a reasonably unnerving grin, "don't you?"

"I believe that I'm next, " Mauklo said as he stood up.

This got the immediate reaction of Shong reaching for his sword.

"Harm one hair on that boy's head, and you answer to me!"

"My dear Shong, " Mauklo smiled, "you misjudge me. I merely wish to give the boy his present."

"Now, now, " Eldar cautioned Shong, "maybe even Mauklo has his good side. Give him a chance."

Shong slowly put back his sword as he eased back down.

"Very well, " he said, "proceed."

Sabu then leaned over to Eldar and quietly whispered in his ear.

"Eldar, you don't actually believe that, do you?"

"Of course not, " the elf whispered back, "I just don't want to spoil the kid's party."

"My present, " Mauklo smiled, taking a rolled-up piece of paper from within his sleeve, "is this."

He handed Kilgar the paper and watched as the boy carefully opened it up.

"It's a list of dates and events, " Kilgar said frowning.

"All the times that I saved your life and made possible your surviving to this birthrise of yours, " Mauklo said. "As a Destir ever bound to keep your word and remember your debts, I knew that you wouldn't want to forget what you owe me."

Kilgar looked up with a mix of puzzlement and suspicion.

"Just in case it ever comes up that you owe me, " Mauklo smiled. "So that neither of us ever forgets."

"Why that scheming wizard, " Bronto said under his breath, "he would use the boy's honor against him!"

"It is said, " Sheil-Bor(h) put a restraining hand on the big man's shoulder, "that a scheme will often come back upon the schemer. Have patience, at least this rise."

"Well..., " Bronto began doubtfully as Mauklo started back to his seat.

"I do hope that we aren't late for the party, " came a stern voice from out in the hallway beyond, "I would hate to have missed the young lord's birthrise."

All heads turned, as in through the doorway strode a single figure. His yellow-brown skin shone through his metal-studded leather armor, his long thin mustache drooping down to either side of his firmly chiseled chin. His black-brown hair came down to his shoulders, his brown eyes looking out with authority upon those assembled. His thick boots echoed down heavily upon the stone floor as he walked in.

It was Starke.

"Well, I'll be, " Bronto said, his mood suddenly shifting for the better as he shot to his feet. "What brings you here? Aren't you just a little bit far from the Kingdom?"

"Not at all, " Starke said as Bronto grabbed him around both shoulders, "since you're all here, it's considered an outpost of the Kingdom. The King therefore has a reason to get a task-force together to patrol these waters. After all, the Sea Of A Thousand Islands could have several strategic locations should a war break out."

"And you just happened to get yourself assigned to this duty so you could make Kilgar's party, " Bronto grinned. "Who do you think you're actually fooling?"

"I'll admit that the timing did seem to work out, " Starke grinned. "And I'll have you know that I'm heading that task-force. So I'll be seeing you all more often from now on. As a matter of fact, my flag-ship is docked down at your pier right now."

"Well, whatever the excuse, " Bronto began to lead him in, "you're a welcome sight."

"I hope that goes for myself as well, " came another voice from out in the hallway.

"Who-" Shong began.

But the figure that walked in seemed to catch everyone by surprise. Clean-shaven, with fair-blond hair, tall and well-muscled, he walked in, armor clean and polished, the double-peaked crest of the Kingdom upon his chest.

"Prince, " Shong began.

"Filmar will do, " the figure waved off the title. "I was Filmar when we adventured together, before you knew me as the Crown Prince."

Filmar walked in, Starke instinctively taking up position beside him, hand never too far away from the silently humming vortex sword in its special sheath at his side. Filmar walked in with a sort of royal casualness, smile upon his face, until he caught sight of Mauklo.

"You, though, " he said in Mauklo's direction, "have to call me Prince."

"Sounds like you pulled a little rank to get here for Kilgar, " Eldar smiled.

"Let's just say I thought up a good excuse to tell my father, " Filmar smiled.

"Something that you have to talk to us about later, maybe?" Sabu observed.

"Sharp as ever, I see, " Filmar said. "Yes, there is some business to my trip, but that can wait. Right now I'm here to save this gathering from whatever cloud of gloom that Mauklo may have put it under."

Mauklo grimaced at the comment but said nothing.

"First, for the guest of honor. Kilgar, " Filmar took something out of his pocket and handed it to the boy. "This medallion will gain you the attention of any of the King's forces should you need it; you have but to show it to them and they will listen. And, when you're fully grown, it will act as admittance into the King's army should you ever want to join up."

"Thank-you, " Kilgar took the small medallion and put it in his pocket.

"Shong, " Filmar then turned around, "I have a message from my sisters, Teenya, Tanya, and Tonya."

Shong suddenly felt his legs grow weak with nervousness and a lump to form in his throat.

"The triplets?" he asked, trying to keep his voice from cracking. "Whatever could they want with me? I'm sure they're nice girls and all, but-"

"Ha!" Bronto slapped Shong on the back with a short laugh. "My friend, you've got to learn how to deal with the ladies as well as you do the creatures at the end of your sword."

"I'll admit they are among the more insistent of my siblings, " Filmar said, tactfully hiding any humor he may have felt on Shong's part, "but I'm sure that the infatuation is only temporary. In the meantime, they wanted you to have this."

Filmar took out a small box from within his armor and handed it to Shong. Shong took it and carefully opened it up. Inside were three straw-colored flowers and a note. Shong took out the note and read it to himself.

"Thank-you, " Shong said, with almost too much politeness, "I'll put it with the others, "

"What's that make, " Eldar asked, "about one a motab?"

"Shong 'fraid of purty ladies, " Blag-ak chuckled loudly.

"Yeah, well, " Shong began, "it's just that..."

"Never you mind, Shong, " Sabu interrupted as he stood up, "it's none of our business. Besides, we have a party to get back to. Eldar, what's next with this sort of thing?"

"My favorite part, " Eldar grinned, "the food!"

"Did someone say food?" Quickfoot perked up his ears.

"Although we'll probably have to lay off the grog because of the kid, " Eldar frowned momentarily, "but, it should prove fun nonetheless. Candol, how are the blessings of Indra today?"

"For such a brave lad?" Candol said, rolling back his sleeves. "Nothing less than a true feast."

"Oh we'll be having none of that magically-conjured food, " Dwingale interrupted, "I've had half the women of my people preparing a proper feast down in the village. So you can just stop invoking the power of the 'all-mighty Indra' and come on down for some real food."

"She can get pretty firm when it comes to hospitality, " Eldar smiled, "I'm afraid we'll have to go along with it."

"The forest it is then, " Sabu said as the others started to get up. "We'll work up a nice appetite on the walk down."

They all started filing out, Dwingale acting the mother hen as they started off towards the promised feast.

"You can tell the women of your village that they are indeed good cooks, " Filmar said formally, pushing the empty plate away from himself on the table, "a finer feast have I not had in a long time."

"Thank-you, " Dwingale said a bit demurely, as she swept up the empty plates on the table.

"But now there are matters to discuss, " Filmar continued, "although I would not want to spoil Kilgar's first birthrise party with the presence of such matters."

"It's okay, " Eldar said, pinching Dwingale's rear as she went by him, "he's outside having fun with the elven kids and Blag-ak. Or rather, they're trying to teach him how to have fun and he's trying to teach them how to kill orkai."

"I saw Quickfoot and Lorel out there with them, Sire, " Starke added a bit formally, "but I haven't seen Kilinir or Kor-Lebear."

"It's us then, " Filmar nodded, "good. To begin then."

They were in one of the village's tree houses, woven straight out of the branches of Lindel's recently regrown forest, the very walls being made of a thick bark, the floor a soft and warm leafy covering. Through a vine-laced window the sounds of children at play filtered in from the outside, a continual reminder of the gay celebration still going on all around them. They were seated around an oblong table, carved with spiraling leafy patterns, Eldar, Sabu, and Sindar at one end, Filmar and Starke at the other, with Candol, Lindel, Mauklo, Bronto, Shong, and Sheil-Bor(h) scattered along between. Dwingale was shuffling plates off the table, with Eldar eyeing her all the time, dressed as she was with a minimum of covering, just brown-green leather covering her chest and middle, and leather leggings around her shins. Eldar smiled as he watched her feminine assets protrude in all the right places, her honey-blond hair falling lightly down upon her shoulders. When she was finished disposing of the plates, she came in and sat down next to Eldar, just as Filmar was starting.

"Several of my father's scouts have been infiltrating into territories thought heavily influenced by Miro, " he started out, "including Frecaloth, parts of Cenivar, and most of My-Thov."

"I think the young lad would argue with you about certain parts of My-Thov, " Candol pointed out.

"True, " Filmar admitted, "the Great Desert is the one part of that continent that Miro has never been able to penetrate, thanks entirely to Kilgar's people, but the mountains especially are a nest of Miro's dark forces. No one that we've sent out has yet come back from there."

"What do you know?" Mauklo asked with smug politeness. "In the way of useful information, I mean."

Filmar ignored Mauklo's tone and continued.

"We know that the Summit Mountains of Frecaloth, the highest range in the entire world, are a-bristle with Traugh and his dragons. Captain Starke's scouts have taken much risk to spy out their activities."

"We think, " Starke picked up the explanation, "that he's getting outside help in increasing the numbers of his dragons."

"The Dragon Lord, " Sindar nodded.

"Exactly, " Starke agreed, "they appear to be coming in through dimensional portals, adding to the already vast numbers of Traugh's own brood."

"Well, now we know what the Dragon Lord's part in all this is, " Lindel commented. "Sabu, is it possible to hide that many dimensional portals? I would think that the presence of so many would create such a concentration of magic as to stand out like a beacon."

"Well, " Sabu explained, "dragons are very magical creatures. So much so, that if you keep these portals well spaced from each other in both location and time, that the dragons' own magical presence could be made to block that of the portals."

"In other words, " Eldar translated, "yes. Miro can hide them."

"Which means that there's no telling how long he's been importing dragons, " Bronto summarized, "nor how many he might already have."

"I think we have a vague idea, " Eldar said, his hand finding its discreet way over towards Dwingale's exposed upper leg. "Some of us were over there on Devoon when we were hunting out our Hevon Gems of Wind. And let me tell you, the sight I saw from atop that peak was rather unnerving. A valley full of dragons- thousands of them- all waiting. And we don't know how many other valleys that the Dragon Lord had brewing over there."

"Thousands of dragons, " Filmar pondered, "and if the other reports are to be believed, perhaps hundreds of thousands or even millions of orkai as well."

"Did you say millions?!" Shong was shocked, "How?"

"A multitude of tiny wars, " Filmar answered, "several local skirmishes all over the world. And with each such skirmish, another town that no one ever heard of disappears, and the numbers of the orkai increase."

"Then what we saw in the mountains of Catho was not unique, " Sabu observed. "A pit where they convert captured prisoners into more of their kind- it was only one among many."

"There may be hundreds of such places around the world, " Starke said. "My scouts managed to destroy two of them, at great cost to their own numbers, but I have reports of several others. All hidden away deep within mountains, in dark forests- we even found evidence of one on a small island just off a major shipping lane."

"All strategically placed, no doubt, " Sindar agreed, "and in places where one might least suspect it."

"Is that an opinion, or a vision?" Eldar asked suspiciously.

"Partly both, " Sindar answered. "I have a vague feeling of such an orkai-genesis pool near the Great Northern Kingdom."

"My father's advisors have suspected the presence of such in the mountains to the north, " Filmar nodded in agreement, "but neither his scouts, nor the dwarves that live in those mountains, have been able to find any sign of them."

"They're readying for a strike, " Bronto said, "a big one."

"It is Mystigir's contention that he will strike on the coming Donjflou, " Filmar put in.

"But that's not for another nine rels, " Shong exclaimed, "of what type of war would he take so long to build up his forces for?!"

"The machinations of Miro are long in the making, " Sheil-Bor(h) said calmly, "so too then must his goals be as lofty."

"He's right, " Sindar agreed, "until we truly know what Miro's goals are, we can't really know the reasons behind his preparations."

"I would give my eye-teeth to know of what those reasons are, " Filmar said, suddenly putting a fist down hard on the table. "He's after something big and we don't even know what it is. It has to be more than just mere conquest of territory."

"I think we may have a clue as to what he's after, " Sabu said, reaching inside his robes, "something that I've been suspecting more and more is connected."

All eyes on him, Sabu drew the map out from his robes as he started to explain.

"We found this map in the depths of Th?r T?orca, " Sabu began as he unrolled the map, "and it's been a puzzle to us ever since. We can't tell how old it is, and fire and acid have no effect upon it."

"I tried every alchemical process I know, " Eldar put in, "there's no way of analyzing it, nor of harming it."

"And that's not even the puzzling part, " Sabu continued, "the numerous symbols drawn on this map are completely unknown to us. Even the dimensio-books we found on Devoon offer no clue. Only Sindar has been able to get any sense of any impression about any of them."

"Impression?" Filmar asked, leaning forward in interest. "Explain."

"That symbol there, " Sindar pointed, "the one that looks sort of like a cowled face. Everytime I study it, I get an immediate impression of death and gloom. From some of the other symbols I get an impression of location. It's almost as if the writing itself has a psychic component to it. That the very symbols were drawn as much with the mind as with the pen. But I can't make out more than that."

"What manner of person could draw with his mind as one would with a quill?" Filmar asked.

"Not person, " Mauklo smiled, "I would say more like people."

"Uh oh, " Eldar quipped, "our dark friend's figured something out."

"Of course, " Mauklo said civilly, "indeed, where would you be without me."

"I don't know, but I'd sure like to try, " Shong said under his breath.

"A map always leads to a location, " Mauklo said, "and from the prominence of that one small cluster of symbols there, I'd say that they point the location."

The string of symbols he pointed to was a right-facing stylized bracket, followed by a triangle containing a smaller triangle, the smaller one's corners each bisecting a side of the larger triangle, with lines drawn out from each of the larger one's corners, each bisecting the angle it was within as it went over to touch the side opposite. After the strange triangle was some sort of interlocking angular bracket, facing both left and right. This was followed by a double-looped figure lying on its side, and then finally by a stylized left-facing bracket. Mauklo was pointing to the area on the map that this string of symbols seemed to point to.

"We've matched up this map against known continents, " Sabu shook his head, "and if that land mass below is the northern part of Catho, then the point which you now indicate would be right in the middle of the Northern Wastelands."

"Some of my father's ships have been by that area, " Filmar put in, "and, aside from the cold and the constant ice-cap, there's a range of mountains up there that is completely impassible. It's a small range, but one that makes the mountains on Frecaloth look like a footpath by comparison. There's nothing up there but more mountains."

"Perfect!" Mauklo smiled. "Then there's got to be something up there! Or why else make a map to a place that doesn't exist if not to point the way?"

There was a brief moment of silence as everyone thought this over. Candol was the first to give response.

"By the eyes of Indra, it does make a sort of sense. But, then what does it lead to? And how do we read it?"

"And you think that this map is somehow connected with what Miro is after?" Filmar asked, after a bit of thought.

"It's the only thing we've found that's more mysterious than Miro, and perhaps as old, " Sabu affirmed, "but of how to use it or read it, I'm afraid that we're at an impasse there. I feel it to be a true sasmo."

"Perhaps then, " Dwingale unexpectedly spoke up, "there is someone else that can help."

"So, " Eldar cocked an eyebrow, "you can read this gibberish, my sweet?"

"Of course not, my love, " she continued, with a quick shy smile, "I see in it even less than you do. No, I speak of one who is both a person and a legend. Of one whose name has been but vague rumor even amongst the best of sages since memory began."

"Who?" half the people at the table asked at once.

"The Great Sage At The Foot Of The World, " she pronounced.

"Yes, " Sabu said with some mild wonder in his voice, "I've heard of him. It's said that he knows everything."

"He's just a myth, " Lindel protested lightly. "A child's story for thousands of rels."

"Even a myth has a basis in fact, " Sheil-Bor(h) pointed out.

"If he does exist, " Sabu said thoughtfully, "then he might indeed know the key to this map."

"It's worth a shot, at least, " Eldar shrugged. "Why not?"

"To go chasing after a legend clear across the globe, " Mauklo protested, "is a fool's errand. We should do something more constructive with our time!"

"You're against it?" Eldar asked. "Good, that settles it; we're going."

Mauklo gave one last huff of protest and then quieted down, scowl on his face.

"Dwingale, " Sabu asked, "where does legend say he's to be found?"

"All I've heard is the Foot Of The World, which would be the Southern Wastelands. Nothing more, other than how hard he is to find."

"Great, we've narrowed it down to the entire South Pole, " Eldar sighed. "Well, at least it'll make for a good adventure just getting there."

"It is said that an ancestor of mine once journeyed to see the Sage, " Dwingale said, "to ask of the future of his people. He found the Sage's home in the middle of the snow when he least expected it."

"Did he get his question answered?" Shong asked.

"Yes, " Dwingale answered, "he was told that they would come to a great height and then suddenly fall. He returned with mixed feelings over his answer. It is said also that the Sage extracts a great, and often strange, price for his answers. In the case of my ancestor, he never spoke of the price, though he lived to have more offspring than anyone in my entire family."

Then Dwingale got a suddenly thoughtful look on her face.

"Come to think of it, " she continued, "my ancestry dates back to the very last child he had just before he got killed in the downfall of the Evolins. If he hadn't decided to breed so much after he came back from the Sage, I may not even exist. Hmm, I wonder..."

"I think we should start an expedition immediately, " Bronto spoke up. "If this Sage can indeed answer the puzzle of that map, then we must find him. This could be our only clue to fighting Miro."

"When the man's right, he's right, " Eldar nodded. "Tomorrow then. Sabu, how far could you teleport us?"

"Not very, I'm afraid, " Sabu shook his head. "I've never been to that area of the world at all, and I can't teleport us somewhere if I don't know where we're going."

"We'll use our second ship then, " Sindar said, "the first one should be enough to keep the island in contact with the trade routes while we're gone."

"My fleet shall patrol by this area regularly, " Starke reassured, "that you may have no fear of your island charges."

"Thanks, Starke, though I wonder how little we may actually have to worry about them, " Bronto said. "Have you ever seen those K?ecian in battle? Not to mention the magic that the elves can conjure up."

"I'll tell my father about your quest, " Filmar said, "this is definitely something that he'll find of interest."

"Who comes along then?" Lindel asked.

From outside, they could hear the sounds of elven children at play, along with the voice of one young Destir shouting playful cries of death, and the bellow of an ogre threatening to bring down a tree in his over-exuberant display of amusement.

"Think it's safe to bring along Blag-ak?" Eldar asked. "He's destructive enough when he's not trying."

"Once we're on-board the ship, I can always teleport him in as needed, " Sabu offered, "that way he can still take care of his dragons as we travel."

"Cute green scaly little things, " Bronto smiled, thinking of the young dragons, "I think one of them has my eyes."

"I don't think everyone needs to come, " Sabu offered, "this mission is primarily of interest intellectually, and the Southern Wastelands is only about fifteen thousand miles to the south of us, just at the other end of the Sea Of A Thousand Islands. A good ship and a spell or two, and we'll be there in no time."

"The foolish thinking of wizards, " Bronto put in. "When you're busy casting your spells, who's going to protect your backs? Who's going to stop you from getting carried away with intellectual discourse while there's a metodane coming at you?"

"I should also mention, " Dwingale added, "that when my ancestor left to find the Sage, he went straight south of the old home of the Evolins. While that was relatively close to the Southern Wastelands, it's also on the other side of the world from where we are now. What with having to go around Frecaloth, that adds about another twenty-five thousand miles or so."

"Okay, so we'll have to plan our trip a bit more carefully, " Eldar shrugged.

"And some friends to guard your backs, " Bronto added, fist coming down on the hard-wood table.

A golden coin tossed up lazily through the air, to tumble back down upon an open palm.

"I'm coming too, " Candol announced after he looked at which side of the coin faced up.

"Okay, we'll start organizing the expedition tomorrow, " Sabu said.

"I'll tell the ship's captain about our plans, " Shong said as he started to get up.

"I'll go tell Kilgar, " Eldar said as he too started up.

"You will not, " Dwingale said, "it's his first birthrise celebration and I won't have it spoiled."

"Are you kidding?" Eldar smiled. "Being told that we're leaving on an expedition for halfway across the world will probably be the perfect present for that kid. Why, he'll be the first one on-board the ship."

"By the beard of Indra, I think he's right, " Candol grinned as he got up with the rest, "the boy's ideas of fun are definitely not as are other children's."

"Well, I guess so, " Dwingale reluctantly admitted as Eldar put an arm around her waist.

"Come on, " Eldar said softly in her ear, "let's go tell the kid the good news."

They all started to file out in groups, walking out into the green canopy outside, down along the walkways suspended between the tall trees. Below they could see the elves at play, scurrying playfully around the large form of Blag-ak, Quickfoot on his usual shoulder-perch. Sabu looked on as he saw an elf in another tree, in the midst of magically gesturing at its branches, urging the branches to grow and twist into another adjoining walkway. He watched as the branches visibly grew by the foot before his very eyes, shaping themselves into the floor and railings of a new walkway. Lindel interrupted him with a tap on his shoulder, as they both then went down towards the forest floor to join the others.

Mauklo took a different turn from the others. He quickly found himself on the other side of a large tree, no one around to observe him.

Two figures then dropped down suddenly to either side of him, down from out of the trees. Kor-Lebear came down to his right, Kilinir to his left, both silent as cats. Kor-Lebear spoke in a soft voice, aimed only for Mauklo's ear.

"How'd it go?"

Mauklo smiled.

"Perfect, " he said, "all I had to do was protest over going; then they couldn't be more eager to start off. Eldar himself insisted that we go after my little act of protestation."

"You knew they'd think of this Great Sage then?" Kilinir asked.

"Of course, " Mauklo answered. "When I saw how impossible that map was to translate, I knew that only the fabled Great Sage is said to know enough to help us. I just had to wait for one of them to think of it and then just offer a little protest to nudge them along the way."

"You knew that if you'd suggested it they'd never go along, " Kilinir added.

"Correct, " Mauklo replied, "although it took them a few motabs longer to think of it than I'd thought."

"So, then what is it that you want out of this Sage?" Kor-Lebear asked.

"If he truly is the fountain of all knowledge, then that alone is worth the trip, " Mauklo explained. "Knowledge is power, and I want as much power in my hands as possible before this Donjflou comes. I'll squeeze that Sage dry of everything he knows before I'm through."

"Do you need us to come along?" Kilinir asked.

"For now, no, " Mauklo answered, "but if I need to, I'll send for you. Sabu isn't the only one to have mastered a teleport spell. For now, I need you two to enhance your reputation."

"That's something else I've wondered about, " Kilinir asked. "Why should you be concerned about our reputations?"

"Why, " Mauklo smiled, "that much should be obvious. When you two have achieved such a reputation that even your very name invokes fear in certain circles, then just think how much fear I can wield if word were to get out that I control the Black Dagger. People would wonder how much more fearsome than the Black Dagger that I am."

"Using our reputations to enhance yours, " Kor-Lebear grinned. "Nicely played."

"Thank you, " Mauklo nodded, "but you'd best get going. I should rejoin the others before anyone gets suspicious."

"To then reluctantly join up on their mission, I suppose, " Kilinir smiled.

"A very perceptive young lady, " Mauklo admitted.

"Very well, " Kor-Lebear said, "call when you need us."

Then, in the blink of an eye and a leap into the trees, they were both gone. Mauklo then composed himself, putting back on his I'll-come-if-I-have-to face, and turned around and walked back towards the main gathering.

Meanwhile, sitting back up in an unseen part of the trees, Kor-Lebear and Kilinir looked down from amidst the cloaking leaves, watching as Mauklo casually walked back to the others.

"What do you think of his plans for using us?" Kilinir asked quietly.

"That he probably has a reason for telling us, " Kor-Lebear answered, just as quietly. "Perhaps to impress upon us that he can take us out if needed, so that he'll have us nice and trained by the time he needs us."

"I don't think I like being a lap-dog."

"Neither do I, but it suits our purposes for now."

"So then we go independent when we're able?" Kilinir asked.

"Not exactly, " he gave a sullen grin, "we just continue to stick strictly to our code of honor as the Black Dagger; never allowing one to buy out a pre-existing contract once it's been made- no matter who it is."

"Even if it's Mauklo?" she smiled.

"That's why we make such a good team, " he put a lightly massaging hand on her thigh, "we're just so much in synch."

"I always used to tell my mother that someday I'd grow up to become the best at something, " she smiled, covering Kor-Lebear's hand with her own, "I just never told her at what."

A momentary breeze rustled through the trees as a small bird came down to land upon a branch nearby the two figures. By the time the breeze had died down, there was no one there to keep the bird company.

"Sea Mage, " the Thirdocian in the scale armor and blue robes turned around as his Captain shouted out to him, "hurry up with that cargo; I want it down in the hold now!"

The ship's Sea Mage nodded, his hands still upraised as his magic held the large boxes of cargo aloft, hovering suspended in midair a few feet above the open cargo hold on the deck of the sleem. With a few subtle gestures of his fingers, the boxes slowly descended down into the waiting hold. Meanwhile, the Captain, also a Thirdocian, dressed in worn baggy sailor pants, the colorful neckerchief that marked his rank tied lightly around his neck, took in the scene of his crew busy at work, his wide oval eyes scanning quickly around.

"And hurry up with that sail!" he shouted out.

The Captain then turned quickly around on heel as he spotted three individuals coming up to him from out of the corner of his eye. His race not being one for such formalities as saluting, he just nodded at their approach.

"We should be ready to depart within the nev, " he spoke out in his deep sea-worn voice.

"Good, " Sabu said, Lindel to his left side, Bronto to his right. "We may have a way of reducing the length of our voyage by several thousand miles, if we could discuss it with you."

"Of course, " the Captain nodded, "it would certainly cut down on the needed supplies. Although, you don't have to worry about my men suffering through such a long voyage- we Thirdocians are born to the sea."

"Yes, I know that, Captain, " Sabu answered tactfully, "unfortunately some of the rest of us aren't. But I was thinking- going around the north end of Frecaloth would definitely be the longest way around, but while the more popular southern route through the Channels Of Frecaloth would be a lot shorter it's also the most heavily populated by pirates."

"Yes, " the Captain agreed, "all those long rocky islands in that stretch, along with the heavy sea traffic, have made it the perfect area for pirates ambushing. Treacherous indeed for a lone ship, although I think our ship's Sea Mage would be up to handling most of them."

"Yes, well, " Sabu continued, "then there's that ice-free channel through the Southern Wastelands. It cuts straight through the center and is always ice-free and little traveled."

"It's little traveled because no one trusts it, " the Captain shook his head slightly, "it goes right through the center of all those glaciers of the Southern Wastelands and is always ice free! Too unnatural."

"Agreed, " Sabu said, "besides which, if we are to find the Great Sage, then it is best that we try and follow the original route of Dwingale's ancestor as closely as we can. Anyway, the idea I had in mind involves Lindel here. It seems that he's been to the Elven Islands."

"Born there, actually, " Lindel corrected.

"A misnomer, really, " Sabu explained, "since they're actually a group of faultez. Perhaps so named because-"

Sabu stopped himself as he caught everyone's bored looks.

"Well, " he got back to the main subject, "they're clear on the opposite side of this hemisphere, and they are only about seven or eight thousand miles north of where Dwingale says the old legendary home of the Evolins was, and that's just a bit north of the Southern Wastelands at that point. I could use Lindel's knowledge of the area as a basis with which to open up a portal for the ship to sail there through, cutting off almost twenty thousand miles from our trip."

"You could open such a portal as would take the whole ship?" the Captain asked.

Sabu shrugged mildly, "I've been practicing."

"Don't let my friend's modesty here fool you, " Bronto put in, giving a friendly slap on Sabu's shoulder, "he's becoming quite a wizard!"

"Well, in that case, " the Captain said, "I could plot a new course, with the Elven Islands as our starting point. Subject, of course, to exactly where in the Islands we come out at."

"Good, " Sabu nodded, "then do it. We'll leave within the nev."

The Captain nodded and then went back to driving his crew, the way a teamster might his oxen. A female voice approaching from behind them then attracted their attention to that direction.

"I hope you aren't planning to leave without me, " came a shy-sounding voice.

Dwingale came walking up to them, dressed in scanty travel clothes, small sword slung along one side of her hip, a small leather pouch on the other side. Eldar was coming up quickly behind her.

"She wants to come along, " Eldar explained with a slight smile, "and while I wouldn't want to bring her into danger, you've just got to admire a woman with that much spunk."

"We'll be traveling through where my ancestors came from, " she said almost meekly, "I merely wish to see the place where my people originated."

"I see, " Sabu said thoughtfully. "Well, if you think you could hold your own..."

"I will try my best, " she answered mildly.

"Don't be fooled by her shyness, " Eldar said with a grin, wrapping an arm around her waist, "she can handle herself pretty well. Besides, it'll give me something to do on the voyage."

"You're just lucky that Thirdocians aren't superstitious about having women on board a ship, " Sabu said. "Very well, then."

"Superstitious?" Bronto chuckled. "Heck, their women are just as good sailors as the men are! And just about as tough."

"Found that out the hard way, did you?" Eldar asked with a smile.

Bronto just chuckled in response.

"Sails out! Release the anchor! All set sail!"

The sailors on the pier loosed the last of the ropes holding the sleem back and watched as the long ship pulled majestically out into the bay. Long and wide, low to the water, with her row of six large hemispherical sails sprouting out from her six main masts, a sleem is perhaps the largest type of ship afloat, yet low enough in profile and maneuverable enough to sail into even the shallowest of bays. Blag-ak was on the pier, Quickfoot atop his shoulder, watching the long ship back away from the pier. Then, when it was clear and well into the bay, they watched as the crew maneuvered the sails to slowly bring the large ship around in a wide arc, facing her out to sea. Blag-ak put up a massive arm to wave them farewell.

"Blag-ak miss friends!"

"Don't worry, " Quickfoot assured him, "they'll send for us when they need us. And the way they get into trouble, that'll probably be real soon."

"Blag-ak hope so, " the ogre said as he dropped his arm back down to his side, watching the ship sail slowly out of the bay.

"Now come on, " Quickfoot gave him a friendly slap on the back of his rock-like head, "you've got those dragons to watch out for."

As Blag-ak turned to walk back to his cave where the dragons laired, Sindar watched from on board the deck of the sleem as the pier slowly receded. Their ship rounded the cliff-side marking the entrance to the small bay and faced out to sea. Then the sails unfurled to their fullest as the ship caught the wind and picked up speed. Sindar leaned on the ship's railing, watching the island grow more distant as Sabu walked up alongside him, his magical staff in hand.

"Worried about them?" Sabu asked.

"A bit, " Sindar admitted. "I know our island to be hidden and well defended, but I still can't help but be concerned."

"Don't sorry, " Sabu pointed out to sea, "Starke will look after them."

Sindar looked up to where his friend pointed. Rounding one of the many small islands in this, the Sea Of A Thousand Islands, was a warship. A Tirrissian warship, if he wasn't mistaken. Sindar concentrated briefly as he sent his mind out towards the ship, bringing its image into clear mental focus. Yes, the ship had the King's markings upon it, a mostly Thirdocian crew along with several warriors both human and elf. He saw a dark dirty-skinned man with the shoulder markings of a lieutenant in the King's army upon the deck, drilling several other soldiers in the use of their swords, while the sailors worked their magic with the ship. Sindar probed a little further, getting a name. Lieutenant Gormal of the King's army, assigned under Captain Starke, here on patrol near their little island.

Sindar then stopped himself and quickly drew back his mind. In some ways his increasing mental powers still seemed new to him. For instance, he thought, I've got to learn not to casually pry into others' minds like with this Lieutenant Gormal. It's really more than impolite, it's morally wrong. He must learn the responsibility that came with his power.

"Yeah, they look like they can safeguard Ha?kldalnsa, I guess, " Sindar said, coming out of his reverie.

"Your range is getting pretty good, " Sabu observed, "for your mind to see them from here."

"How did you know-" Sindar began.

"The mental link you set up with you, me, and Eldar, remember? You must be distracted. And you're right- it probably is impolite to go peeking into people's minds unannounced."

"I know, " Sindar said straightening up, "but I didn't probe deeply. I guess I'm just concerned."

"A vision?" Sabu asked.

"No, nothing I can really put my finger on. More like the feeling of an ant crawling lightly up and down my spine. Nothing definite."

"You will tell us if your feeling becomes any more pronounced?" Sabu asked, with a bit of concern.

"Of course, " Sindar gave a tired smile, "but don't you have a portal to open right now?"

"Right, " Sabu said, turning around, staff in hand.

"Need any help with the portal?" Sindar asked, walking alongside Sabu as he made his way to the front of the ship.

"I shouldn't think so, " Sabu said as they weaved their way around the sailors, "but it would be better if you kept watch for anything going wrong."

"Don't worry, " Sindar said, "I'll catch you if you fall. We wouldn't want to end up on the wrong part of the planet, after all."

"With the spell I'm using, it could be the wrong dimension, " Sabu joked.

They approached the ship's bow, the Captain, Lindel, and Candol already there.

"Course set straight ahead, " the Captain announced, "ready for your portal."

"Good, " Sabu nodded. "Lindel, are you ready?"

"Anytime, " the elf said, his long golden hair tossing in the breeze. "What do you want me to do?"

"Just concentrate on a specific location near the Elven Islands, making sure it's out at sea. Sindar here will then take that image from your mind and project it into my own. I'll then use that to open up the portal with."

"Sounds good, " Lindel said. "Here I go then."

Lindel closed his eyes in concentration, vividly picturing the seas surrounding the lands of his home. With nary a trace of effort, Sindar deftly plucked the image out of his mind and placed it into Sabu's. Sabu felt the image within his mind, knew it as if he'd been there several times, so clear was it.

"Got it, " Sabu snapped up his head, hand grasping firmly onto his staff. "Now for the portal."

"May the blessings of the all-mighty Indra be with us."

Sabu raised his staff up high, concentrating, focusing his magic. Several sailors paused at their duties, watching the young wizard at work. Bronto paused in his hauling of a sail rope to look up towards his friend. Eldar and Dwingale stepped up from below decks, stopping to watch. Even Mauklo stepped out into the mid-rise sunlight to observe. They all watched, waiting for what magic words Sabu would utter.

But Sabu uttered no words. Holding his staff up with one hand, he just concentrated, a single bead of sweat forming upon his brow. He went beyond the need for magical utterances and just poured pure concentration through his staff, an act of sheer will.

His staff started to glow, a bright narlu haze surrounding the length of it. The glow increased, growing ever brighter. Finally, a single bolt of narlu colored light leapt from the staff, streaking towards the nearest large mast. From there it leapt to the next mast, and thence onto the next, hop-scotching its way down along the length of the ship. Each place where it touched, the glow grew and flowed down the sails, spreading along the entire width and down towards the decks. Another bolt of narlu color then leapt from Sabu's staff, hitting the bow of the ship this time. This one then spread quickly from the front of the ship, racing along the surface of the deck, and down along the ship's hull. The glow quickly spread along everything on board the ship. The crew looked at themselves as they too began to glow the bright narlu color. Soon, the entire ship and all aboard her were aglow with the brilliant ultraviolet color, all emanating from Sabu's up-reached staff. The crew murmured amongst themselves, perhaps just a little bit nervous despite their Thirdocian reputations.

"What's to be nervous about?" Kilgar asked a nearby sailor as he looked about him and the glow. "It comes from our friend who means us well, so why worry?"

"It seems unnatural, " the sailor said. "Suppose something goes wrong."

"Then what good would worrying do, " the young boy shrugged.

As the sailor was busy being amazed that such a young boy could be braver than himself, elsewhere on the deck Eldar hugged an arm around Dwingale.

"You know, " he said, "I think I'm starting to get used to this sort of thing."

"It does appear to be a most... interesting... way to travel, " Dwingale nodded, just a bit doubtfully.

The glow grew brighter, while the world around them seemed to become vague and foggy. Only the ship and the bright glow seemed to be real, while the world around them appeared to fade away like a dreamy image cast upon a wall of fog. Soon, all they could see around them was a wall of narlu-colored light. When it seemed as if the outside world was no more, Sabu shifted the position of the staff in his hands, pointing it off in a direction just slightly to his right, as he faced straight out towards the bow of the ship. The glow gave a couple of slow glowing pulses, then started to fade. The crew watched as they started to once again see foggy images of the outside world, growing in intensity and reality as the narlu-glow started to quickly fade from around them. A low popping noise was heard from all around, as if from a ship-sized mass of air being suddenly displaced, the last of the glow then suddenly falling like rainwater from down around them. The glow collected into pools of light, quickly fading away, as the crew looked around to find themselves back in reality and once again returned to the seas.

"Well, " Shong said as he came up alongside Bronto, "at least we aren't in the Sea Of A Thousand Islands anymore."

The last was obvious for everyone, for around them was no longer the familiar sight of hundreds of tiny islands crowding in around them. Instead lay open seas, clear to the horizon in the suddenly twilight sky.

Open, that is, but for the distant outline of a single large island.

"By Indra, why is it suddenly almost night?" Candol asked.

"We've just come clear around the world, " Sabu said with tired enthusiasm as he lowered his staff, just a couple drops of sweat showing upon his face, "it's a different time of the rise over here. Lindel, what land is that up ahead?"

Lindel strained his keen elven eyes as he looked on ahead into the fading light. Straining but for a moment and then smiled.

"It's the shoreline of my childhood, " he pronounced, "the southern-most faultez of the Elven Islands."

"You did it!" Eldar shouted as he raced across the deck, Dwingale walking up at a slower pace behind him. "And without even a verbal incantation this time."

"I've been practicing, " Sabu shrugged, "I felt I was ready for non-verbal magic."

"I'd say you're more than ready, " Eldar said as he threw a hug around his human friend, "we came clear across the Southern Hemisphere in but a few trideds."

"Eldar, " Dwingale said calmly as she came up behind him, "after all that effort, Sabu no doubt needs to rest. That sort of magic puts quite a strain on one."

"Oh, you're right!" Eldar exclaimed as he suddenly released his hug around Sabu. "I'm sorry- you've probably got to rest."

"Not really, " Sabu said, "I'll be fine in a couple of moments. I've learned how to control the magic flow without straining myself too much. I just have to rest for a few tids and I'll be fine."

A mild look of surprise briefly fluttered crossed Dwingale's face as she heard this, but she quickly reverted back to a pleasant smile as she gently took Eldar by the arm.

"Then you should leave him alone for a few moments; wizards need their rest."

"Sabu, " Lindel asked, "I know this particular island well; I have relatives there. Since we'll be passing by there in a nev, do you think we can stop by? At least for the evening?"

"It'll be full night by the time we get there, " Sabu said, "I wouldn't want to intrude on them at such an hour."

Lindel just smiled, "Elves don't need sleep, remember? I guarantee that they'll be up and eager for some guests."

"And if they're like my family, " Eldar put in with a smile, "they'll probably be partying all night."

"The Elven Islands it is then, " Sabu turned to the Captain, "Captain, make course for that nearest island and dock for the evening. Your men can have a bit of shore-leave and it'll give you some time to plot a new course from here."

"Aye, aye, sir, " the Captain said, and then whirled around on heel to face the length of the ship, shouting out, "Okay men, we head for that land over there. Steer course south by south-east. Lookout, shout out when you spy us a port. Make ready to dock when we arrive, and it's shore-leave for all but the slow when we do!"

The crew hustled on about their duties, Bronto once again hauling down on the sail's rope. Sabu stood at the forward-most tip of the bow, Sindar coming up to his left side, Eldar to his right, Dwingale standing arm-in-arm to Eldar's own right. They gazed on into the growing night as they approached another new land.

The Elven Islands.

"Port sighted ten degrees off the starboard bow!"

All eyes glanced over towards where the Lookout had indicated. It was just on full night now, the last of dusk now but slipping away. A port was needed now if ever they were to find one before evening's dark grip came upon them. But a port indeed everyone saw, just as the Lookout had said.

A multitude of twinkling silvery lights, all lined up in twin glittering rows, like a hundred fireflies standing on parade, all beckoning towards a single golden star at their end. Pastel-colored shapes dimly glowing within the trees, as if to give decoration to the tall sylvan trees. A single small boat come sailing out to guide, its hull seemingly the stuff of moonbeams, its sails the shine of pearl, floating quietly up alongside, bright Elven sailors on board bidding welcome. Faint music coming from on shore, the music of gay celebration and happy times.

"Yep, " Lindel sighed as they sailed towards shore, "home hasn't changed a bit."

"They light up like that every night?" Shong asked, from alongside.

"Elves don't need sleep, " Eldar reminded him from several feet further down the railing. "What else do you expect us to do with our nights?"

Closer now, lights like long silvery threads guiding them towards a pier of white pearly stone. Odors now wafting upon the wind, the smell of flowers and wine, of youthfulness and health. Upon the shore, gaily smiling elves, their smiles and pointed ears glistening in the silvery light as they wave and beckon, dressed in scant-covering garments of dark pastels woven with the orains, narlus, and light greens of their forests. Pulling in between the twin silvery lines, ship slowing down to dock, as golden cords are tossed to the sleem, slim elven rope to tie down the large ship. Calls of cheer and welcome being exchanged, the sounds of a welcome port. The smell of fresh jasmine and spice filling the air.

Eldar was the first to leap off the ship onto the white stone pier, landing almost dancer-like amidst the elves helping the Thirdocian crew to tie down and dock the sleem. He spread out his arms as if in wide welcome, his usual exuberance spilling out from his face.

"Hel-lo world! Break out the wine, hide your women, and start the party, because Eldar's in town!"

"A-hem, " Dwingale stepped daintily down the now-lowered plank onto the pier, "'hide your women'? Mayhap it is a good thing that I came along."

"Oh, merely a figure of speech, my dear one, " Eldar said quickly as he stepped over to her to wrap an arm around her waist, "nothing serious meant about it."

She smiled and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.

"You just remember that, " she said with a smile, "or I'll have Sabu turn you into leggings for my shoes."

"Just so long as you wear me, " Eldar grinned.

"A rather undesirable display to greet one's eyes upon coming down onto a new land, " Mauklo remarked casually, at the sight of Eldar and Dwingale arm in arm.

As they each stepped off onto the pier, the new arrivals had time to look at the elven port that lay around them. More like a country village it seemed, though the number of elves about would dispute that. The buildings along the forested shore were of wood, and never more than but a single story high, but they were built around the trees, as if one didn't have the heart to clear a space for a proper building, with the smaller trees growing straight up through from inside some of the buildings. Others of the structures seemed made out of the trees, as if someone had altered their growth to make of them the walls and roof of their home. All of the structures seemed built more around curves than straight lines and angles, their sides curving around in almost decorative designs and patterns, as if their architect had an equal eye for aesthetics.

All of the buildings were widely spaced, with flower and bush lined paths curving around from one to the other, giving a sense of pleasant spaciousness. As one looked closely, the city could be seen to actually sprawl all along the shore around them, though with its spacious design and that it seemed to be as one with the forest, it could not be discerned from more than a short distance away at sea.

Of the people of the forested town, while elves would seem to make up the majority, others of somewhat stranger ilk could be seen. If one looked carefully enough, faerie folk of all variety could be seen to be about in both the forest and its hidden city. Some as small as one's hand, their tiny wings buzzing them from one treetop to the next, some dancing in the air overhead. Others as tall as a human's waist, with features drawn out to an impossible thinness and tall pointed ears rising up to the height of their heads. What looked to be a small boy ran skipping through the woods, looking normal enough until one saw that his legs were those like a cricket. A girl of dark tree-bark skin, colorful flowers for hair, and no more than a foot tall played with a glowing sprite no more than her height as he flitted in the air about her. If this land was as magical and enchanted as so seemed her people, then indeed what a mystical place it must be.

"It's good to be home again, " Lindel said to Sheil-Bor(h) as they came down together, Candol behind them.

"Home is where your heart is, " Sheil-Bor(h) remarked. "If you carry your heart with you, then anywhere can be your home."

"Sheil-Bor(h), " Lindel responded with a half grin, "don't ever change."

"Lindel!"

The elf turned to see who had called out his name, as he stepped out onto the pier, the others coming off the ship behind him. His face then grew a broad smile as he caught sight of the figure running up to greet him.

"Gwen!"

Just stepping off the ship with the others, Bronto looked up to see a golden-haired young elven maid, her skin almost the same pearly white as the stuff of the pier, her dress a flowing pastel blue, its fabric almost as delicate as appeared her skin. She ran up to Lindel, throwing her slim arms around him, as Lindel's small elven frame caught hers in a spinning hug of joy.

"Why you dog!" Bronto chuckled. "So, how many other women have you been hiding?"

The girl smothered Lindel in hugs and kisses, her long mop of hair wrapping itself around the both of them. Finally, Lindel managed to gently pull her off and set her down on the ground, smiles upon both their faces.

"Gwen, " he said, as the others gathered around them, "it's good to see you. It seems so long."

That's about when he noticed the grins and nods coming from his friends around him, looking on at the embrace that no one could have missed.

"This is Gwendel', " Lindel quickly explained, "she's my cousin."

"We've been the dearest of friends since childhood, " Gwendel' explained, still smiling.

"I'm beginning to like the family already, " Bronto winked. "How many other pretty maids are you hiding around here?"

"Gwen, " Lindel said, a merry shine upon his face, "how have you been? How's the family? My father, the little ones? Oh, I've just so much to ask."

"They are all fine, " she said. "Your father- isn't here to greet you right now, but he's- fine. Oh, I'm just so happy to see you."

An elf then walked up out of the crowd of the ones scurrying about the ship, a male, light silver of hair, not much taller than Lindel but not quite up to Eldar's almost five and a half feet. He wore a light green shirt and trousers, the material seeming like leather, but being light and delicate as silk and clinging to him almost possessively. Like all elves, of age he looked no more than would a human in his mid twenties, though he could be centuries old. He stepped up to Sabu and Sindar, hand out in greeting.

"I am Fellor, " he said, as Sabu shook his hand, "leader of the elves of this faultez of the Elven Islands- in as much as we do have a leader. I welcome you to our land."

"Thank-you, " Sabu said quietly. "We don't mean to impose, but we only wish to stay the night and-"

"They knew we were coming, " Sindar interrupted, certainty in his voice, "since just before we'd spotted their land."

"Right indeed, " Fellor nodded, "and I see that you have your own mystics as do we."

"You'll have to excuse Sindar, " Eldar said, "he's just the littlest bit psychic."

"There's food and drink ready for you and your crew, " Gwendel' put in as she finally released herself from Lindel, "those that must stay with the ship will have it brought to them, but we do have just the nicest party ready for you all."

"As if you could stop an elf from partying, " Mauklo said under his breath.

"I would imagine them to also have their own serious ponderings, " Sindar said quietly.

Sabu looked over to Sindar as he stood beside him, slight questioning look on his face.

Nothing I can yet put my mind upon, Sindar thought over to Sabu, just a general foreboding that they're trying to hide beneath their elven gaiety.

They'll probably talk to us about it in their own time then, Sabu thought back, but I think we should find out about it before we leave.

"Come, " Fellor announced, "we will treat you to true elven hospitality."

Fellor and Gwendel' then led them all on down the pier, along with half the Thirdocian crew, perhaps a dozen elves stepping in alongside talking and laughing as they walked along with them, a row of small silvery balls of light hanging suspended several feet above their heads, while they walked on towards the forested shore. A forest lit only by the single golden ball of light hanging above it and by the light slowly-changing pastel shapes glowing down from the trees. Small winged faerie folk, no larger than one's hand, flitted through the trees and their pastel shapes, while others of the short and no-flying variety scurried atop the forest floor. Happiness was in the air.

As they stepped onto the grassy shore, walking into the forest and a small multitude of other waiting elves, Sindar stopped and faced back around, looking out to sea. He couldn't be sure, yet he thought his mind had caught a faint trace of something dark; dark and threatening. He peered out to sea, still not quite certain if he'd actually seen a faint black shape sailing out at the dark nighttime horizon.

"Lindel was always a phenomenal marksman, " Gwendel' was saying, "I'm happy to see that he's fallen in with good company."

They were outdoors, sitting under a grove of trees, in seats carved of marble and decorated with fine woods. Around them elves danced and sang, urging their guests to join along with them. Thirdocian sailors showed themselves to be just as good at being merry party-goers as they were at sailing, their loud cheers and songs echoing through the night. Eldar and Dwingale were in the midst of it all, dancing around the forest like their feet were on air, while Shong tried shyly to develop his own meager dancing and social skills at the hands of two elven maids. Bronto's deep baritone voice sang out through the night, singing songs of battles past, while Candol tried to extol the virtues of Indra upon anyone with an ear. Smaller faerie folk of all types and descriptions danced around with the others, some flitting by overhead, others tumbling down between the legs of the much larger Thirdocians. Shifting pastel-colored shapes drifted through the trees overhead, providing both a diverting sight and a pleasing multi-colored lighting for the nighttime celebration.

At the edge of a nearby clearing stood a small stone palace, only two stories high and just large enough for but two families. A small building, but still carved like it was meant for royalty. Pale smoke and the scent of cooking came out of its tall decoratively-carved chimney, while elven women walked out of its doors carrying plates of hot food to pass around the party-goers. A single artfully-built building, nestled in as if to augment the beauty of the surrounding forest, yet meant only as a kitchen for just such events. Peeking distantly through the trees could be seen other structures built to share the forest with the trees instead of replace them, a small city if one knew of but how to look, a decorative if ordinary enough looking forest if one did not. Other structures, just as artfully decorated, just as tactfully nestled into the forest.

Though it be Fall, the night stayed warm, or rather at least within the confines of the impromptu celebration, as if kept warm by the happiness of those within the woods. Sabu and Sindar sat with Lindel and Gwendel', Lorel standing nearby, while Kilgar came over, plopping himself down on the soft grass.

"Tired of the party already?" Sabu asked the young boy.

"All the other kids would do is play all day and night, " he said as he sat cross-legged. "It serves no purpose. When do they practice? None of them even know how to fight- how could I play with them as I would other kids in the desert?"

"You are but a child, " Gwendel' said with a smile, a plump fist-sized faerie flying by overhead, "solron; you should live to enjoy your life and worry about fighting when you're an adult. Children should be carefree."

"Uh, Gwen, " Lindel tapped her on the shoulder while Kilgar gave a slight grimace, "he's Destir. When they play they fight."

"Destir?" she said to Kilgar. "Oh, I'm sorry. I've heard of your people but never seen one before. I do apologize if I've insulted you."

Kilgar took out his new pearl-handled knife and began randomly stabbing the ground lightly with it.

"It's okay, " he said, "I guess not too many people outside the deserts know what to expect from us."

"I don't know about that, " Sabu said, thinking, "I hear that the Thirdocians and Mountain People are almost the same way; not letting their offspring out of their village until they know how to fight and fend for themselves."

"Yeah, but they aren't so morose about it, " Eldar said, walking up to their little group, Dwingale at his side. "You've got good fighting skills kid, but you still have to learn how to relax."

"He also has the good instinct of his people, " Sheil-Bor(h) seemed to come out of nowhere, just as Eldar and Dwingale were sitting down upon a spare marble bench, "I would suggest that you listen to them."

Sabu looked over at the boy, still playing with his knife in the ground. He cocked a questioning eyebrow.

"Is this true? Is there something that worries you?"

Kilgar shrugged his shoulders noncommittally, as would most any young lad when questioned by an adult about something they weren't sure was safe to answer.

"Nothing really, " he said, then answered with the bluntness of both childhood and his people. "It's just that they're hiding something. Something they're worried about."

Lindel seemed about to laugh it off and let the evening's good times have their way, but he then caught sight of Gwendel'. Her face shifted from happiness to a sort of mild nervous concern flickering across her face. He looked at his cousin, perhaps now seeing what only Kilgar had before perceived.

"It's as the feeling I had earlier, " Sindar whispered to Sabu.

"Yes, " Sabu agreed, "only the boy didn't have need of your mental powers to see it."

"Gwen?" Lindel asked. "There is something wrong. What is it?"

Gwendel' seemed to have an internal struggle as she sought to give answer. Seeing her cousin's trusting face, though, finally decided it for her.

"Fellor said that we shouldn't mention it, " she explained, "that we shouldn't bother guests with concerns not yet proven."

"You can tell us, " Lindel placed a soothing hand upon hers, "you're my cousin, and these are my friends. They're not just any people. I could tell you such tales of what we've all been through, who we've fought. You've no reason to hide any concern or danger from us."

"Yes, " she nodded, concern now openly showing upon her face, "I've heard. A gold-skinned lady came by a few motabs ago and told us tales of your exploits. We'd thought them just tales, tall stories for a long night, not anything that had really happened."

"Gold skin?" Eldar leaned forward. "Were her eyes a solid gold and did she look like an old gypsy?"

"Her eyes were gold, yes, " Gwen answered. "But she appeared as young as do I."

"It's got to be the same one, " Eldar exclaimed.

"She does seem to get around, " Sabu said, "telling tales of our exploits for her own purposes."

"In her stories, she said that you fought and defeated Krey and survived journey to the planet of the Dragon Lord, " Gwendel' said. "Is that true?"

"How did she know about what we did on Devoon?" Eldar questioned. "Next time we see her I've got to ask her how she does it."

"They are indeed true, " Sheil-Bor(h) said as he sat down on the other side of Gwen, "in all detail that I sense that she has told you."

Gwendel' seemed to think this over for a few moments, as if turning a great decision over in her mind. Everyone saw the worry now on her face, even Kilgar, who'd stopped playing with his knife and now held it ready as if for battle.

"If it is indeed true, " she finally said, "then I guess you are ones I can tell. We have not even told the King of the Great Northern Kingdom yet, though we have given him our alliance."

Everyone patiently waited as she paused before continuing, the gay sounds of the party now seeming to drift more and more into the background.

"There is an evil out upon our oceans, " she explained. "We've lost several of our ships to it, never to even see a trace of them again, nor any sign of a fight. Ships with our best mages on board, all lost."

"Do you know of what form this evil takes?" Lorel asked. "That we may face off against it?"

"All we've ever seen is a single black ship sailing the nighttime seas, " she went on. "Even our best seers have been unable to peer on board its decks that we may see what stalks us."

"How many have been lost?" Lindel asked. "Has there been anyone I know?"

Gwendel' looked up as Fellor silently approached the small group. She looked at him as if for guidance. At his quiet nod, she continued.

"It stalks at random, and never any two encounters within the same motab, though it might be seen more often. We've lost three ships from our own island, and we've heard of about a dozen other losses from all about the Elven Islands."

"They would test your defenses, " Lorel said, "seeing what you have in preparation for something to come."

"It makes sense, " Sindar agreed.

"Who was lost?" Lindel asked.

"Two motabs ago, " she said, barely-controlled emotions racing across her face, "a ship with your father and brother on it... we haven't seen it since. It just disappeared!"

Shock raced across Lindel's own face as he tried to comfort his cousin as she neared an emotional break-down.

"It's been just so terrible, " she fought back a sob, "to not know when or who-"

She finally broke out into a series of silent sobs, putting her face into Lindel's shoulder, while the latter gently patted her head, shock still on his face.

"My father, " he said slowly, "and Lordel..."

"That's why we didn't tell you, " Fellor said, "we didn't want to spoil your visit."

"When were you-" Lindel started.

"I was going to take you aside and tell you before you left, " Fellor explained. "We still search for the lost ships, though we don't hold out too much hope."

"This is most terrible indeed, " Dwingale said, concerned.

"Yes, " Lorel agreed, "to lose so many in such underhanded warfare."

"You don't understand, " Eldar said, "that's not what Dwingale meant."

Several sets of eyes looked over at Dwingale, awaiting explanation.

"Elves of any type, " Dwingale went on, "seek after two things: knowledge and happiness. The knowledge could be in their magic, their forests, or of life itself. The happiness is one of the soul, our zest for life that you see in the celebration all around us right know. Even in the seeking of knowledge we seek our lightness of soul, the happy center of our beings."

"I just do it more than most, " Eldar grinned.

"It is part of what we are, a part of our souls, " she continued. "To take it away would destroy us, make even the greatest of our magic worthless through disuse by not having the will to use it. My Evolin ancestors fell when they lost this, and then gained it back when the survivors were welcomed by the Great Human Kingdoms of old. After Th?r T?orca fell, my people once again fell into a darkness of heart, with only the faintest thread of hope in the return of the Kingdoms holding us aloft from the pit of despair. Only through the happiness in our heart did we survive for five thousand rels in that valley, amongst the broken remnants of a better age."

"And then we came, " Sabu put in.

"Yes, " she nodded, "when we saw you kill Krey, our joy was replenished. That is why we left the valley with you. You became a new source for our elven heart."

"These raids then, " Sindar noted, "are not meant to test your defenses so much as they are to slowly break your spirit. So that when comes a war-"

"When comes the Donjflou, " Sheil-Bor(h) corrected, "there will have been a full ten rels of such tactics to have weighed down upon their souls. They will be unwilling or unable to fight. The souls of the elves of these isles will be lost."

"And as well a valuable ally, " Sabu observed, "the Elven Islands are a major and valuable force in this part of the world. Not only is their collective magic well known, but they are a strategic location between Frecaloth, Puj, and My-Thov. Its loss could well lose everything in the Southern Hemisphere except Lamica and the Sea Of A Thousand Islands."

"You make us sound more valuable than I might think we would be, " Fellor smiled, "though you are right about the loss of our souls. We hold ourselves well now, as you can see all about you, but if this continues for another nine rels, then I'm not sure if our lands will then be the same."

"For your magic and happiness to depart from these lands would indeed be tragic, " Candol spoke up, walking up to the group, "a sight not to be desired in the eyes of Indra."

"Then let's do something about it, " Kilgar said. "Let's find the ship and sink it."

Everyone looked at the boy as he bluntly stated the obvious, though perhaps most dangerous, solution.

"Sounds like a plan, " Eldar smiled.

"We could even avenge your family, " Lorel said, "for the death of your father and brother."

"Elves are not usually given in for vengeance, " Lindel corrected, "though I would indeed find pleasure at stopping this menace."

"You can't, " Gwendel' stopped her sobbing and looked up at her cousin's face, "then you too might disappear and I would truly be lost."

"Don't worry, my cousin, " Lindel reassured her, "we have a talent for surviving. When we find that ship, we shall dispose of it. There shall be no more pulling away at the elven soul."

"Would that it be so simple, " Sheil-Bor(h) put in. "In the eyes of Miro, no plan is as it seems."

"He may be right, " Sabu said, "there may be more here than we would know. That it be a part of Miro's plans, I have no doubt. But, of what part?"

"Another question for the Sage?" Eldar asked. "I don't think he'd mind just one more."

"Perhaps, " Sindar said, "we can but ask when we find him."

"The blessings of our people upon you then, " Fellor grinned, "for just but trying."

"Nooo problem, " Eldar grinned, "we do this sort of thing all the time."

"Come!" Fellor announced. "You have given us new reason to celebrate. In the morning we can worry about what is to come."

They all got up, Gwendel' now with gaiety upon her face, no trace of her sorrow, Lindel now showing naught but happiness on his own. They left to join the food and merriment, leaving the cares of the world to their own time, natural elven gaiety once again taking hold.

Only Kilgar, young though he was, seemed to still have a trace of concern on his face, as he wondered about what the nighttime seas held. He picked up his knife, then stood up as he sheathed it. He heard the gay music all around him but its happy call did not reach him. There was vague gloom hanging over things and only he seemed to care. He wished briefly that he was back in the desert, away from this ocean of water, where his people would stop such merriment and quickly have at their unseen enemy. Destir knew how to handle invaders. Not like the ones here.

But, he was Destir, and these were his friends. Someone should look after their backs and it might as well be him. So thinking, he screwed up boyish determination on his face and hung a hand nearby his sheathed knife. He took but a single glance in the direction of the partying and then faced himself towards the deeper woods. With nary a whisper of movement he was off into the forest, the night as his cloak, the trees his cover.

Elsewhere on the island, another walked the grassy wooded shore. His yellow skin shone in the orange moonlight of Gamro, his medium-length dark hair moving slightly in the cool sea breeze, his dark eyes gazing out to sea. Mauklo peered out into the dimly-lit night, listened as the sea lapped about the shore. He did this for a while, pacing slowly about the water's edge, stopping every now and then to stand and look out to sea. Finally when he stopped, as he gazed out to sea, he smiled, as if seeing a joke that only he could get.

"I see you out there, " he said to himself, "lurking about these seas. Making of yourself a potential threat or a determined ally."

He took a step closer to the shore, the water lapping up gently to his leather-shod feet. He continued to gaze directly out to sea, as if looking at a specific individual.

"But you shall not force me to show my hand just yet, " he said, "only in my own time will I reveal my plans and only then will anyone find out of whence I would go. No, you shall be dealt with in such a way that will still leave me uncommitted. I fear no mysterious black ship that prowls the night."

He looked down at the water lapping softly about his feet. With a single dark glare, the water around his feet was suddenly reduced to hot steam coiling about the air, curling up around his legs. He smiled, the minor threat to his dignity removed, and gazed back up and out to sea. In the distant night, he caught sight of the vague black shape of a single ominous ship sailing along the sea. He looked straight at it, no fear of its presence in his black eyes.

"In due time, " he said quietly, "in due time."

It was several nevs later, late into the night, the sounds of partying and celebration having since died down. Kilgar was sitting down at the end of the pier, looking out to sea, a row of silvery lights suspended high above his head. To the untrained eye he sat casually and relaxed, as would any normal boy, seeming to be half asleep as he dangled his legs over the side.

But to the trained eye, it was very different. Resting he was, but also ever alert for any sign of threat, ever aware of his surroundings. His pearl-handled knife, though sheathed, was never more than a finger's breadth away from his right hand. His half-lidded eyes peered watchfully out to sea, as if he'd appointed himself sentry to the elves' lands.

His resting eye caught sight of a pearl-sailed elven ship, plying its way through the calm night waters, not more than half a nev's sailing time away. He watched as it glided peacefully along the dark waters, glistening in Gamro's orange-hued moonlight like a sparkling jewel. It seemed to be curving its way through the water, making its way towards the very pier on which he sat, coming home to port.

He then watched as an ominous black shape suddenly appeared out of the night. Larger than a Tirressian Warship, it dwarfed the elven vessel as it came speeding straight towards it. Though its outline appeared as a ship, no further detail could the eye make out. More of a force did it seem than a ship.

Kilgar jerked his head up, now fully alert. He leaped up to his feet as the twinkling elven vessel nimbly swerved aside, altering course in a desperate attempt to escape. Like dancing on water, was the elven craft so maneuverable, speeding back out of the dark shape's way.

But, this enemy was no ordinary ship, or at least it didn't act like any ship known. Kilgar watched, helpless to do anything to save the elves, knowing that help could not reach it in time. He watched as the dark shape seemed to slide sideways along its path, calmly out-maneuvering the elven ship's nimbleness by seeming to defy the Laws of Physics that governed sailing. With an unnatural speed, the shape closed on its target as if it were but standing still. Kilgar's knife sprang to his hand when his ears picked up the distantly faint cries of the elven crew as the dark ship sailed right into the delicate-looking vessel.

But nothing sank. The dark ship rammed into the elven ship, then seemed to slow down a bit upon contact as it continued on through, but now seeming to engulf its target, sailing slowly through the elven vessel, swallowing it whole as an eclipse would the sun. Distant cries of tortured voices carried lightly over the ocean breeze, as in but moments the black ship had consumed the other vessel and all aboard her, leaving nothing behind but a wake in the water. Only the black ship remained, slowing its speed now as if sated, as it calmly turned out to the open seas.

Kilgar found he'd been gripping his knife almost tight enough to draw blood, as his mind still processed the quick and unavoidable death of the pearly craft. Fear was not in his heart, for that is not the way of the Destir, but frustration. Frustration at his inability to have helped, to have let down his chosen charges.

"That was the screams of their souls as they lay helpless before the dark force."

Kilgar instantly whirled around at the unexpected voice from behind him, long pearl-handled knife in hand. He'd been alert all this time, even with the shock of the black ship, yet someone had crept up behind him without his knowing. Snuck up on a Destir!

He was facing a woman. Human of appearance, though gold of skin and hair, her eyes of a solid gold with nary a pupil within to stare back at the boy. She appeared fairly young, perhaps in her mid twenties, wearing a single blue dress, a light gossamer weave covering her down almost to her ankles, with just the suggestion of a low neckline. Her feet were shod in common leather sandals and upon her fingers she wore but a few small rings. She smiled down at Kilgar as he looked up at her eyes, empty golden orbs.

"I am not here as an enemy, " she said softly, as if not wanting to disrupt the apparent peace of the night.

"You're the gold-skinned lady Sabu and Eldar talk about. But, you're not old."

"I only appear old if I desire it, " she said calmly. "You can put down your knife young one, I am not here as a threat."

Kilgar drew back his knife, relaxing out of his battle-crouch but not quite putting his knife away.

"You are most vigilant, " she said, stepping up next to him, putting a gentle arm around his shoulder, "that shall indeed serve them well."

"You're blind, " Kilgar observed, still staring up at her vacant eyes, "yet you move as if you aren't."

She gave a small smile, looking directly down at Kilgar though her eyes could see naught.

"When you can see the future and the past, seeing but a few feet around you is then no hard task, " she responded, "even if you're blind. Would you walk with me for a bit?"

She gently guided him by the shoulder, walking down the pier back towards the wooded shore. Kilgar seemed to accept her explanation as a matter of fact as he walked confidently beside her.

"My people have seers and soothsayers, " he said, "that's what you are, isn't it."

"You're very observant, " she said. "Yes, that is the better part of what I am. One who serves to guide but has not the power or the right to interfere directly."

"An old seer back in the desert once said that if you interfere with what you know is going to happen, then you'll end up changing it and you might not ever get what you want."

"Prophecy is indeed a delicate thing, " she admitted, "sometimes one cannot even say directly what must be done, but must hint and gnaw around it."

"Like right now, " Kilgar said.

She smiled again.

"I'd forgotten how blunt Destir can be, especially little orphaned ones like you. Yes, like now."

They stepped off the pier and onto the grassy shore. Kilgar stayed quiet, willing to let her talk in her own time, as they walked on into the forest, down along a curving flower-lined path

"What was it you saw back there?" she finally asked.

"The black ship the elves were talking about, " he said, "I wanted to go for help, but it happened too fast."

"Yes, " she said, "death can sometimes strike too swiftly. Even when no one has really died."

Kilgar stopped in his tracks, looking up again into her face.

"If they didn't die, then what happened to them?"

"Ah, now that would be the question, " she said.

"The question that you can't answer directly."

"Indeed a bright boy. You shall grow up to be amongst the best warriors of your people, " she paused, then continued, "No, that is not a question for me to answer even if I could. That is a question for others to handle."

"Like Sabu, " Kilgar said brightly, catching on to her hints.

"That would indeed be a possibility, " she said, "if there were some bright boy to go and point out the possibility to him."

"I'll go tell him right now, " Kilgar nodded. "If there's something bad about those ships, my friends will find out what it is and then we'll stop it."

"One can but try, " she said as Kilgar started off in the direction of the former party. "And Kilgar-"

He stopped at the summons and turned around to hear what more she had to say.

"Don't tell anyone that you saw me, " she said, "at least not until after the coming Donjflou. Would you please do that for me?"

"I swear on my word as a Destir, " he said, "and a Destir never breaks his word."

He then turned around and started off. He walked not two paces when he stopped, one last question on his mind, turning around ready to ask it.

"What's your name-" he began.

She was gone.

But not only gone- as he glanced around, she was nowhere in sight. Then he looked down at the ground where she'd stood- there weren't even any tracks to leave witness of her presence. Not so much as a broken leaf to mark her passage.

"Kai-soodra, " he said to himself, now alone in the forest.

He gave but only a moment's thought to what had occurred, then remembered what he'd seen happen at sea. He whirled on heel and sped off into the night, rushing quietly to tell the others.

Back on the pier, she now stood, gazing out to sea at where the black ship had been so short a time ago. A large black bird was now at her side, at least as large as an eagle. She sighed.

"My lady, " came a quiet, ever polite, voice from behind her.

"The vessel is gone, " she said, "or at least beyond the reach of my powers of seeing."

The tall figure came up beside her, his dark cape covering up the shiny plate armor that lay beneath, the hilt of his sword just showing itself from underneath. His handsome features and short brown hair accentuated the look of duty that was upon his young-seeming face as he looked down at her.

"Do you think he'll see your hand in this?" he asked.

"I think not, " she answered, "in the end it shall be Sabu and the others who find out about that ship. I did but suggest the right direction to a young boy."

"And your own powers still can't see through to the ship?"

"It is an impenetrable veil through which I cannot pierce, " she shook her head. "For me to do so, the amount of magic I would have to use would indeed be noticed."

"Then you could no longer work so quietly against him, " he agreed. "It is best that you do not take the risk then, my Lady."

"I just don't like to put them in such danger, but such is their fate anyway."

"Do not worry my Lady, you are helping them with this clue."

"I hope so, " she sighed, "but they will still need a bit of help on this voyage. Lo, could you...?"

"Say no more, " he said, drawing out his glowing sword from beneath his cape, "I shall be there when most they need me."

"Thank-you, " she said, with some relief, "but not too much help, remember. If they don't earn their destiny on their own then they will not be ready for what lies ahead."

"Have no fear, my Lady Yiad?ia, I shall be discreet."

"Good, " she said. "Now I must tell Blacksvain and the others how went my mission. I wish you good luck, Lo."

As he nodded to her, he watched as both she and her bird seemed to fade away, as if but a pale image upon the winds. In but moments, she was gone.

Lo faced back towards the island, his duty now before him. He gripped firmly of his sword, setting it to a slight pulsing glow.

Moments later, the white stone pier was empty.

"Bronto, wake up, " Kilgar tried to rouse the big man, pushing at his well-muscled shoulders.

Bronto was sleeping under a tree, laid out on the soft grass, a resting elven maiden down by his side. Not too many feet away was a small stone cottage, its walls of green stone, its windows of delicate woods, the whole structure carved like the intertwining of several large tree trunks, but grown instead from stone. Kilgar was trying his best to shake Bronto awake.

Slowly he stirred, prying first a single eye open, then the other.

"Hm?" he muttered.

"You've got to wake the others, " the boy urged, "the black ship- I saw it."

"You did?"

Bronto did a slow stretch, the girl at his side opening up her eyes and quietly massaging his large hairy chest. He started to sit up as Kilgar continued.

"It got another ship, swallowed it whole."

Bronto was suddenly fully awake.

"Sounds like we'll have to do something about that, " he said.

He then gently picked the elf's hand off from his chest, putting his other hand under her chin.

"I fear, my darling, " he said, "that our night of fun is at an end. Needs call me out."

"If you must, " she said in an almost musical voice as he stood up, "but take my gratitude with you as you go."

He towered over her small elven form; she still lying down upon the ground, Bronto now fully on his feet.

"I will indeed, " the big man said down to her, then turned to Kilgar. "Okay boy, let's get the others."

They went through the woods, off to where they'd last seen some of the others, running through the woods and across an open field to a small mansion in the woods, looking like it was itself carved out of two immensely large tree trunks, the ornate door settled between where the two trunks would meet. They went straight up to the door, Bronto entering without even bothering to knock.

"Sabu, Sindar, " he called out. "We got problems."

He entered a cozy-looking room, walls and ceiling looking to be carved out of the inside of a large tree, walls curving up towards the ceiling, the floor covered in large leaf-shaped rugs. Books lined a shelf along one wall, while a single bow rested mounted upon another wall. Light seemed to come from the ceiling itself, illuminating the delicately carved padded chairs that lay about the room. A room meant for the entertainment of guests, it seemed, with three doors leading off to other unseen parts of the house.

Sitting in the chairs they saw Sabu and Sindar, Lindel sitting beside a grief-worn Gwendel'. Fellor stood, lightly pacing beside the bookshelf.

"The black ship, " Bronto began.

"We know, " Sabu said, "their seers lost contact with the ship a few diids ago. Eldar and Dwingale are already on their way over here."

"My intended was on board that ship, " Gwendel' said, too much in grief to even now cry. "Tendel; and now he is dead."

"I'm sorry to hear that Miss, " Bronto said as he lumbered across the room. "We'll stop it before one more elf dies."

"I would rather that our enemy strike at us from out in the open, " Fellor said, "at least then we could-"

"I saw it happen, " Kilgar interrupted, "and they weren't killed."

All sound in the room stopped as all eyes faced towards the young boy still standing in the doorway.

"What did you say?" Fellor asked, walking quickly over to the boy.

"The black ship rammed right into it, but didn't destroy it, " Kilgar explained quickly. "It just seemed to sail right through it and swallow it whole. I don't think the ship was really destroyed."

"It may not have left any debris, " Fellor said, "but surely if that black ship-"

"If Kilgar says it's so, then we'd probably better listen."

Eldar stood in the doorway, Dwingale at his side, Sheil-Bor(h) just behind them as they walked in behind the young boy.

"That's something that we've learned the hard way, " Eldar continued.

"He's right, " Lindel said, "the boy is as much a trusted warrior as anyone here."

"Well then, " Fellor asked as they all walked into the room, "if they aren't dead, then what?"

"Good question, " Sabu said, "I suggest that we find out. You said that your seers couldn't pierce through the veil of secrecy about that ship?"

"Even our best, " Fellor said, "with far better skills at such than anyone here."

"Well now, " Eldar smiled, "that sounds like a challenge. What say gang?"

"We may not have the skills of your seers, " Sindar commented, "but we do have other means to know of its passage."

"How?" Fellor asked.

"The ship sails upon the sea, leaving a wake through the water as it passes, " Sheil-Bor(h) explained, "and sailing, it cuts through the winds. We have but to ask the Water and the Wind."

"How does one do that?" Gwendel' asked, complete puzzlement on her face. "The Water and the Wind do not talk."

"That all depends on how you ask it, " Sabu said, standing up, "and I suggest we do so from outside. This could get a bit messy otherwise."

Gwendel and Fellor looked at each other, shrugging mutual puzzlement as the others started for the door.

Outside they went, into the ever-warm night air. They started walking over towards a nearby clearing, Sabu and Sindar in the lead, Bronto bringing up the rear. As they gathered about the clearing, Candol came walking up out of the woods, smoothing out the wrinkles of his priestly robes, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Behind him they saw Shong and Lorel also coming up.

"A large black bird woke me up, " the priest said, "and then I heard one of the elves mention something about the black ship striking again. What's up?"

"That's what we're going to find out, " Sabu said, as he, Eldar, Sindar, and Sheil-Bor(h) gathered at the center of the clearing.

"Care to join in?" Eldar asked.

"This servant of Indra is always at the disposal of the righteous, " Candol answered, "you have but to ask."

Dwingale, Gwendel', and Fellor gathered off to the edge of the clearing, Lindel stepping in beside his cousin.

"It's probably safer if we stay back here, " Lindel said.

"I have been in the presence and use of magic for quite some time, I'll have you know, " Fellor said, "I know well of the hazards of magical fallout."

"Not theirs, you don't, " Lindel grinned.

Kilgar stepped up behind them, long knife in hand, looking out into the woods as if to guard their backs. Bronto walked up in front of Fellor, standing facing the clearing. He then took out the Dragon Sword from within his belt and held it aloft. Gripping it with both hands, he then plunged its tip solidly into the ground, holding firmly onto its handle.

"What's that for?" Fellor asked, as Shong stepped up alongside Bronto, his own sharp sword in hand.

"To make sure they don't get interrupted, " Bronto answered.

"Then I shall lend my own sword to this occasion, " Lorel said, pulling out his own sword and stepping over to another side of the clearing.

In the center of the clearing, Sabu and the others were joining hands, linking themselves into a circle.

"If their best seers can't get through, " Sabu was explaining, "then I'm guessing that it'll take all of us."

"It would be nice if Mauklo would show up to help out, " Sindar put in.

"Yeah, well you know him, " Eldar shrugged, "probably out torturing some cat for entertainment."

"Concentrate upon the Water and the Wind, " Sheil-Bor(h) said. "Concentrate, and use that which is within each of us."

So saying, they all closed their eyes, each concentrating upon the mysterious power that lay within.

"What are they doing?" Gwendel' asked.

"You'll see, " Lindel said, "just watch."

A dim glow then seemed to come from within each of those at the center of the clearing. A blue-green light suffused out from within them, encircling them like a thin fog. Dwingale, Gwen, and Fellor watched as something seemed to shine forth from each of their chests. They flexed their sharp elven sight to see of what lay glowing upon their chests.

Upon each, two gems. One the watery color of the oceans, the other a swirling mass of wind, trapped within crystalline confines. Each was glowing with its own light, one blue, the other an airy light green. Gwen and Fellor looked on in puzzlement. Dwingale, though, remained unpuzzled by the sight, though still a bit in awe.

"The Hevon Gems, " she said slowly, "Eldar's explained them to me, but this is the first time I've really seen them in action."

"Hevon Gems?" Fellor asked.

"Watch and you'll see, " Dwingale answered.

The glow surrounded those in the clearing, covering them as a light globe of mist. Sindar's voice rang out, intoning a request for them all.

"We ask the Water of what it has seen, " his voice carried out through the surrounding forest, "we ask of the Winds of what has sailed through them. Of the Black Ship we ask of what has been seen."

A wind started up around them, coming out of nowhere, to speed up around them in a sudden torrent. It whipped around them like a small tornado, the colored glow rising up high above their heads, circling faster and faster around through the air.

Several other elves were gathered by now, all around the edge of the clearing, joined by a multitude of tiny faeries flitting through the trees to land upon their branches and also watch the spectacle. All watching the display of magic, all knowing better than to go within the clearing. They watched as the wind whipped around fast enough to tear the trees to kindling if it but touched them.

"I see what you mean by fall-out, " Fellor nodded to Lindel. "Such magical force is rare, even among our people."

"You haven't seen anything yet, " Lindel answered, "they're just getting started."

An image started to form within the whirling confines of the small tornado, an image of a vague black ship, sailing upon the nighttime sea. Still vague, but definitely discernible.

"That's more of an image then even our seers got, " Fellor admitted, "they indeed have great magic."

"They aren't finished, " Dwingale corrected. "I know my Eldar; they'll press it until they have an answer."

Sabu's voice now rang upon the open clear night.

"We call the Water to add to what the Wind has to say, " he said. "By the power of our Hevon Gems do we ask this of the elements."

Now they heard a roar, coming from out at sea. Heads looked around for the source of the sound as it got quickly closer, but no one saw it.

Until, that is, they looked up.

Coming from down out of the sky, was a large pillar of water. It curved in from out of the ocean a few short miles away, arcing down through the center of the deadly-whirling wind. It plunged down into the wind, becoming one single whirling mass with it, the image of the black ship being momentarily washed away. But then they separated, the wind rising to the top, the water settling to the bottom, all suspended several feet above the heads of those just below it, controlling its forces. The image of the Black Ship then returned, clearer now, showing a closer view of what Kilgar saw from upon the pier.

They saw the Black Ship closing in upon the silver-hulled elven craft.

"That's what I saw, " Kilgar said, matter-of-factly.

"Sabu did say it might be messy, " Lindel grinned as they watched the storm before them.

"By my ancestors, " Fellor said, with more than a trace of awe in his voice, "it is the Black Ship, as clear as can be!"

They watched as the image of the ship closed upon that of the small elven craft, watched as the one rammed the other, and started to engulf it. But still, could they not get a clear view of the Black ship, nor naught but blurry images of the decks of the elven ship.

"I can't quite make it out, " Eldar called out above the roar of the wind and water. "We need something more."

"By the beard of Indra, this is the best that this humble servant can do!"

"There's something blocking us, " Sabu yelled. "We need something more!"

Crack of lightning, roar of thunder, striking down into the midst of the vision's maelstrom. Down from out of the sky into the center of the image, crackling all about as the image came into sudden sharp focus.

Several puzzled heads looked around for the source of the lightning, even those within the clearing puzzled as to its origin.

Electric-yellow gem aglow upon his chest, Mauklo walked with calm and dignity into the center of the clearing.

"Lightning too, rides upon the sky and sees what lies beneath its passage, " Mauklo's calm voice was somehow heard above the conflicting elemental roars, "I would add its quick passage to this rather messy vision."

"Mauklo!" Eldar called out. "I knew you'd come! You just love doing last-moment rescues."

The image was now as clear as it would get. They saw the deck of the elven ship, and watched as the Black Ship crept upon it and her crew. The Black Ship now seemed like more of a ghost image, seeming only partly real, like thick mist confined within a set shape, though they caught vague movement upon her decks. It crept across the whole of the elven ship, engulfing it like a ghost-like glove. Where the blackness touched, they could see the ship fade out of sight, merging into the black of the larger ship. Where the black touched a crew member, they saw him cry out in soul-rending agony as he too was swept into the unseen depths of the Black Ship. Soon, the entire ship was swallowed whole into that of the Black Ship. The Black Ship then turned, facing out to sea.

The image cleared a bit, as those in the clearing concentrated upon the image to get but one last detail, one last image of the ship. The image was brought into greater focus, zooming in upon the very deck of the dreaded ship, getting a clear view of one of her ghostly crew, an image of a face. A face torn with the cruelty of its heart, blackened as was the misty confines of the dark ship.

Scream, loud and piercing, cast suddenly upon the forest. Scream of terror, of grief, carried through the air. Piercing enough to shatter concentration, to draw sudden attention to its source.

Sabu, Eldar, and the others looked suddenly around, their intense concentration broken by the loud wail. Concentration that was controlling the straining forces above their heads. The stormy image exploded outward, a circular plane of water, swirling winds, and lightning, blasting suddenly outward at tree-top level, as fast as a sonic boom, as loud as the roar of a great dragon. Splintered branches and leaves suddenly showered down everywhere, mixed in with a thin warm mist of water and a dying residual breeze. Several heads looked up to see that, for a hundred feet around, the tops of all the trees had been sheared off, leaving the sky open to the clear fall night as Gamri rose full with the setting of Gamro.

All was quiet now, as the constant rain of shattered twigs and water continued. Sabu looked up, sticks and remnants of wet leaves falling down about him, hair plastered wetly to his skull, bemused look upon his face.

"We've just got to find a neater way of doing that, " he said, in an understated voice. "These Hevon Gems definitely require better control."

"Who screamed?" Eldar asked.

"It's Gwen, " they heard Dwingale call out from the edge of the clearing.

Everyone rushed over to find Gwendel' laying upon the ground, Fellor holding her as Dwingale tried to bring her out of her faint. Lindel was at her side, laying a hand upon her forehead in a minor spell of healing.

"Is she okay?" Eldar asked. "What happened?"

"When she saw that last image of the Black Ship, " Fellor explained, "she just screamed and fainted."

"The next time someone screams like that when I'm concentrating, " Mauklo scowled, "I'll give them a reason to scream."

A feminine moan and a slight stirring brought their collective attention down. Gwendel's eyelids fluttered open as several questioning faces looked down at her. Even several of the elves that had been watching were gathering around.

"Give her some air, " Bronto said firmly as he gently pushed some of those gathering back a bit.

Lindel propped her up, resting her head in his arms as she woke up. Dwingale knelt by her side, wiping gently at her face with a small cloth. Gwendel' looked around her, fear and despair both upon her face.

"Gwen, " Lindel asked, when she had recovered a bit, "what happened; why did you scream?"

She swallowed as the others awaited her answer, gathering her strength to herself, to push past the emotions that raged across her face.

"That crew member, " she said, gasping a bit for air, "that we saw on the deck of the Black Ship."

"Yes, " Lindel said gently, "the one whose face was all twisted with the evil of Miro."

"I know him, " she said as silence settled over the whole wide forest.

"That's impossible, " Fellor said. "How could you? He's a part of the crew of that evil Miro-forsaken ship."

She swallowed once more, looking up into the dozens of faces, both human and elven alike, that looked expectantly down at her. Controlling the fear and despair raging through her as best she could, she gave answer.

"It was Tendel, " she said, "my betrothed."

"It just can't be!"

Fellor was pacing back and forth across the edge of the clearing, while Lindel helped steady Gwen to her feet. Gamri was full overhead as Sabu got one of his thoughtful expressions, huddling around Sindar and Eldar. Several elves were milling around the clearing, as much shocked by what Gwendel' had seen in the vision as anybody else.

A low growling was heard off in the woods.

"It would appear, " Sabu was saying, thinking out loud, "that none of the elves have really been killed, but rather transformed."

"Perhaps something like how that pit turned humans into orkai, " Sindar added.

"Yeah, but the difference here is that your average elf has a lot more magical energy in him than most humans, " Eldar pointed out. "So if they're going for recruiting troops they're going to get a lot more deadly ones with us."

Low snarl, sound of clawed footsteps slowly pacing through the underbrush.

"Or perhaps it is their innate magic that is sought after, " Sabu went on as he walked a slow circle in the moonlight.

"It wasn't bad enough that we were being stalked, " Fellor turned around angrily, "now they seek to make us of Miro's own! This has got to stop!"

"Agreed, " Sabu said, "the ramifications are just too diverse. Not only do we lose valuable elven allies, but we gain just as many in whatever deadly opponents that those black ships have planned."

"I would think, " Sindar put in, "that the magic of the elves is being used to increase the power of that ship while at the same time providing her with a crew."

"One might also point out, " Sheil-Bor(h) broke in, "the disappearance of the elven ships themselves."

Growl.

"He's right, " Sabu said, "for all we know, those captured ships are also being used for something; perhaps to even make more Black Ships."

"A self-replenishing cycle, " Sindar agreed, "it would eventually wipe out the Elven Islands and provide Miro with a well-stocked fleet powered by the souls of the conquered. It would even seem-"

"We know it's bad, " Lindel interrupted, "but now we've got to do something about it."

Snarl. The sound of claws scraping along tree bark.

"Agreed, " Fellor said. "We are besieged by this deadly ship, and to top it all off there seems to be some unknown predator about in these woods."

"The ship we must handle immediately, " Sabu said to Fellor, "and don't worry about that predator."

Loud growl.

"Yeah, " Eldar shrugged as he pulled out a small round pebble from a pocket, "it's just Schanter."

He then tossed the pebble up into the air. The others watched as it seemed to expand into a large piece of raw meat.

"Here boy, " Eldar called out as one would to a puppy.

There was a loud roar, followed quickly by a green blur of movement leaping through the air, and the next anyone knew, there was Schanter, holding what was left of the raw piece of meat in his short claws, quickly gobbling it down. His scrawny green leathery form, feather stumps and warts all about his body, dirty claws, and scraggly green hair. As he looked up one could see a madness in his eyes that even shocked Gwendel' as she stepped back with a short gasp.

"What is-" she began.

"We still don't know, " Eldar smiled, "but he's all ours."

"Schanter want pain. Give pain. Schanter want!"

"He looks dangerous, " Fellor said as he backed up a bit, hands readying as if for a spell. "We should get rid of it."

"Naw, " Eldar waved off the idea as he took out a small dagger. "Here's all he wants. Schanter: don't hurt any of the elves here; we'll have enough victims for you later on."

Eldar then tossed the small creature the knife.

Schanter grabbed the dagger in midair, then, much to the surprise of Fellor and his folk, smiled and proceeded to stab himself in the leg with it.

"OW! Pain. Schanter hurt. Schanter love hurt!"

He then took out the knife and stabbed himself again, this time in an arm. They watched as the first wound healed up before their very eyes. Schanter continued to inflict wound after wound on himself.

"That aside, " Sabu brought focus back to the conversation, "I agree that we should do something about that black ship before it does any more harm."

"We should sail tonight."

Bronto was stepping across into the clearing, facing the others as his deep baritone voice carried out through the night.

"Our enemy only lurks at night, " he continued, "so that is when we should hunt him."

"I agree."

Lindel was unslinging his bow, Gwen now apparently able to stand up by herself. Gwendel' immediately faced around to her cousin, gently grabbing him by the shoulders.

"You can't!" she exclaimed. "Then the Black Ship will just get you."

"She's right, " Fellor paced back towards Sabu and Sindar. "We can't let you take such a risk on our behalf. It would be more than we could allow anyone to do. The Black Ship would just swallow up your own as well."

"Hmm, " Eldar paced a few steps along the clearing's edge, "so then we need to be sneaky about this. Underhanded and cunning enough to avoid getting swallowed up by that thing."

All heads turned towards Mauklo.

Mauklo just got a look of innocence on his face, feigning complete ignorance as he casually avoided eye-contact and looked around at the surrounding trees.

"Come on Mauklo, " Eldar prompted, "you know you want to."

A look of mock surprise crossed Mauklo's face, as if he'd suddenly realized that they were all looking at him.

"Oh!" A look of obvious false-shock crossed his face. "Is there something you want from me?"

"Even Indra would have to admit him to be in possession of certain talents, " Candol chimed in.

"Of all the times when you've had such conniving ideas before, " Sabu said, "I would lose faith in you if you didn't have one now."

Mauklo walked slowly over to the clearing, thoughtful grin upon his face. When he came to the center, he slowly turned to face the others before he spoke.

"Well, I just might indeed have an idea. But, it's going to require the assistance of the elves."

"Anything!" Fellor spoke up. "Just so long as we can rid ourselves of this menace."

"Now, " Eldar stepped over and placed a warning hand on Fellor's shoulder, "I should probably warn you about some of his plans. You see, we usually have the audacity to follow them, but you-"

"Anything to save our people and the Islands, " Fellor interrupted.

"Schanter like pain! Schanter want Black Ship."

"I agree, " Gwendel' spoke up. "Lindel, if you are going to risk your life for us, then we can do no less than to but help."

"Now listen, " Lindel admonished, "you are not going to-"

"I'll be on Fellor's ship and that's that, " she said, her voice sweet but stern.

Eldar shrugged.

"Well, " he said, "now that that's settled... Mauklo, what's your plan?"

The yellow-skinned one smiled as he prepared to relay his plan.

"Well, it goes something like this..."

Night like pitch but for the single small moon shining blue-green overhead, illuminating the night sea with its light. The sleem plied swiftly through the waters, Sindar standing with Eldar at the bow of the ship, the Thirdocian crew seemingly unfazed by the sudden nighttime departure. Sabu, Candol, and Sheil-Bor(h) were with Mauklo, atop the top deck's main cabin, the large hemispherical sails flapping about them as they stretched out full in the wind. As far as could be seen, the sea was empty, except for two widely-spaced large bumps on the horizon that were two of the Elven Islands.

"Well?" Eldar asked.

"I feel it somewhere about, " Sindar said, his eyes focused at some unseen point, "it will strike suddenly and soon."

"Well, at least that saves on the waiting. Let's just hope that Mauklo's plan works."

"I would more hope that it works as we expect it to and not how he might, " Sindar corrected.

"Good point."

On the deck that was the main cabin's roof, Candol stood, clutching at his sigil of Indra with his right hand, concentration and tension upon his face.

"I am sure that the will of Indra is with us on this venture, but how much longer must we endure this waiting?"

"According to Sindar, " Sabu answered as he got his friend's mental response, "not much longer. Are you two ready?"

"I would be as ready as anyone can be in this life, " came Sheil-Bor(h)'s reply.

"Don't worry, " Mauklo said, noncommittal expression upon his face, "you can trust me."

"I just love how you said that with such a straight face, " Sabu said as he held his staff ready.

Back on the bow, Lindel walked up, Schanter cavorting along beside him. Lindel had his bow ready, quiver slung over his back, an arrow within easy reach in his belt.

"I know not how much good my arrows will do against this ship, " he said as he walked up, "but I do wish that it would make itself known. I tire of this waiting."

"If it makes you feel any better, " Eldar stated, "it's probably hunting us right now."

"Oh yeah, that makes me feel much better."

Lindel went up beside the other two, leaning his elbows down against the railing as he looked out to sea. He watched as the waves glanced by the sides of the sleem, the big ship slicing swiftly through the water. The wind brushed through his golden shoulder-length hair, whipping at him as he looked on into the night. Beside him, Eldar stood gazing wistfully out to sea, as if awaiting but a moment's notice for adventure, while Sindar just gazed distantly. Schanter, apparently bored with waiting for action, was busy banging his head as hard as he could against the deck of the ship.

"So, " Lindel finally said, "we've been out here for nearly a nev- just where is our enemy."

Sindar looked up from his distant gaze, raised his right arm, and pointed directly out to sea.

"There."

Wall of night, parting like a veil. Black ghost of a shape, fading out of the night. Shape coalescing, taking form. Dark fog condensing, forming into hull and sails, and sharp pointed prow. Dark evil ship, bow shaped almost into a sinister smile. Distant crew, vacant look of evil upon their ghostly faces, steering sails that seemed to catch more than just but wind. Wind grown cold and absent of heart. A chill across the spirit, portender of a dark evil. Dark ship plowing straight and swift towards the sleem, leaving nary a ripple in its black wake.

"It's coming straight for us, " came Bronto's yell to the crew as he himself pulled hard on one of the sails' guide ropes.

"Hard over!" came the Captain's shouted order.

"That thing doesn't even look real, " Lindel commented, the arrow in his belt almost seeming to teleport to his bow. "It's a ghost ship."

"Sabu!" Eldar shouted out, his sword almost appearing in his hand. "I think this is your cue!"

"Right!" Sabu said from back atop the cabin.

He tapped his staff once upon the deck, its sound seeming to quickly resonate throughout the ship. With a sudden lurch, the mighty sleem seemed to almost come to a halt, spilling sailors down onto the deck, one of them falling down from atop a sail. Before anyone had time to notice that the ship was dead in the water before the on-rushing Black Ship, Sabu tapped his staff once again. This time there was a lurch in a different direction. Everyone looked up to see where the ship was going now, even Schanter looking up from his head-pounding to have a look.

The ship floated straight up!

Slow at first, then gaining speed, it flew up into the air. The sleem sailed up just but a hair's breath out of reach of the topmost mast of the dark ship, just as the Black Ship sailed into where the sleem had been before. The crew looked down over the edge of the ship to see the deadly ship passing just below their own.

"Okay Candol, " Sabu said, the effort of lifting the ship not showing upon his face, "bring them out."

With a visible sigh of relief, Candol released his grip upon his sigil, letting it fall back to his chest, hanging upon its chain. He brought up the hand that had been holding it, raising it high overhead. There, in the center of his palm, could be seen the watery crystalline form of his Hevon Gem of Water, shining brightly out into the night.

"Let the waters give forth their charges, " he intoned, "to sail out into the night."

A great rushing sound was heard from all around, or rather from around and below, now that the ship was several feet above the height of the Black Ship. At the bow, Eldar and the others looked down to watch as Candol unleashed what he'd been using the sea to hide.

Large waves of water seemed to slip down, sliding down from around several large objects as they rose to the surface, a silvery sphere around each keeping out the sea. They bobbed to the surface, a dozen in all, scattered all around where the sleem had been and where the Black Ship was now sailing through.

"Now the air bubbles, " Sabu nodded.

Mauklo snapped his fingers, releasing all the silvery spheres in a sudden chorus of pops, now revealing their contents. A fleet of silvery-hulled elven ships lay in a giant circle about the Black Ship.

"Captain, " Sabu called out, "signal them to scatter! Let's make this as difficult as possible for that ship."

The Thirdocian Captain waved an arm up to someone in the lookout's nest atop the centermost mast. From there, the Lookout waved about a brightly-glowing red flag for all below to see.

Signal given, the elven fleet started scattering, sailing away from the Black Ship in all directions. The Black Ship seemed to slow its course, as if unsure of which to give chase to. It then headed for the nearest pearly-sailed ship, swiftly gaining on it, until another ship crossed its path. The Black Ship then changed course, heading for the new target, until two other ships crossed by it to further confuse its choice. A game of tag, with the Black Ship as the one on the chase.

"That should confuse it for a while, " Sabu said. "Anyone have any ideas?"

"I must rest for a while, " Candol said, weariness upon his face, "I was holding those ships safe from the ocean for quite a while."

Sabu looked at Mauklo.

"I was holding up those air bubbles, " Mauklo said calmly, "not to mention that it was I who thought up this plan. Do you want that I should do everything?"

"Fine then, " Sabu replied, "Sheil-Bor(h)?"

"I can but try to divine of what sails below, " came his reply, "although I fear that I may not know enough about such dark magicks to be of much help."

"Do what you can, " Sabu urged.

Sindar, came Sabu's thoughts, it's up to you and Eldar to find out how to rid us of our menace. I must concentrate on keeping this ship flying.

Sindar mentally nodded to his friend as he turned to Eldar and Lindel.

"Eldar, " Sindar asked, "of what does your special sense make of that ship?"

Eldar concentrated, reaching out with his own unique sense that he'd gotten over a rel ago, though it seemed much longer. He probed, his sense able to tell him the very nature of what chased beneath them; its life, magic, force, the very nature of what it was. Eldar reached out, concentrating upon the Black Ship as it finally decided to charge after but a single elven ship, ignoring the rest.

"I'm not sure, " Eldar shook his head, "it seems to be of emptiness and death. Like unto nater, but almost with a mind. A single mind."

"I am unable to send my mind through its hull, " Sindar said. "You say that you've found that ship's captain?"

"No, " Eldar corrected, "it has no captain, nor any crew."

"But, then how-" Lindel began.

"The ship is intelligent, " Eldar finished.

"The ship?" Lindel was a bit taken aback. "But that would mean that the crew..."

"Are part of the ship now, " Sindar said, "swallowed up by its force, their minds and bodies now but extensions of the ship's own."

"So, then they aren't technically dead, " Lindel said, shock on his face.

"Just worse than dead, " Sindar finished for him. "And the other ships it absorbed-"

"That's the other thing, " Eldar interrupted, "I think l know what's happened with those."

He looked out over the side of the sleem, looking after the Black Ship, now closing fast upon the stern of one of the elven ships, fully ignoring the others trying to engage it in chase. The tip of the Black Ship neared within a hand's width of the elven ship.

"It's alive, " Eldar said, "and it's about to reproduce."

Shocked silence, as they watched the dark ship touch the racing elven one, its black prow piercing slowly into the stern of its victim.

"No!" Lindel exclaimed. "We can't let it happen- they would overrun all the islands! Sindar!"

"We won't, " the young wizard said.

Sindar shot a mental pulse at Sabu, telling him of what they'd found. Up on the cabin, Sabu then did what came natural for him.

"Hmm, it would be using the ships as the energy and raw material that it would need then, storing it up for later reproduction by fission."

He theorized.

"These seas would then be both its feeding grounds and its territory to conquer, " he continued, "making for quite a weapon when it can- Ow!"

Mauklo removed his elbow from Sabu's ribs as he scowled down at him.

"Enough of that, " the tall Sileen said. "You would have our advantage whisked away before you would finish."

"Sorry, " Sabu said. "Sheil-Bor(h), what have you got?"

Sheil-Bor(h) raised up his hand, a pulsing blue glow now deep within his palm. Below they could hear the frantic cries of the crew of the ship that the Black Ship was now proceeding to swallow, slowly engulfing the rear as it still tried to out-sail the deadly menace.

"Nothing more than what Eldar has found, " Sheil-Bor(h) shook his head, "though perhaps one trivial observation that may be of some small use."

On the bow, Lindel's sharp elven eyes caught a view of the deck of the targeted ship.

"No!" he shouted out. "Not that one!"

On the deck of the ship he could see his cousin Gwendel', frightened but trying to look brave, as she stood next to Fellor.

Lindel unleashed his notched arrow, letting it fly swiftly through the air towards the Black Ship. It hit one of the crew, but only to then be absorbed into the dark evil textures of his countenance.

"Do something!" Lindel shouted.

From atop the cabin, came a bright sea-blue glow, a calm voice resonating from its source.

"I shall offer some small measure of help, " Sheil-Bor(h)'s voice rang out. "With the power that is Hevon, let the seas protect her."

Large watery wall, springing suddenly up out of the sea's depths. Watery wall, cutting neatly through elven ship. A barrier between what is elven and what is black. Expanding wall, water pushing away in two directions. Surviving elven ship flung forward, water spilling into her missing stern, Black Ship flung backward, riding high upon the large wave. Watery hole, then forming beneath it, spinning cavity down towards the ocean's floor. Crash of water, as watery wall falls down, dark menace falling after. Spinning, spinning, down and around, a black shape at the bottom of the small whirlpool. New wall of water rising, pushing elven ships away from Death's reach.

"Of course, " Sabu realized what Sheil-Bor(h) had noticed, "it can't absorb the water if it is to sail upon it. We have it trapped then, but how do we destroy it?"

With a wave of his staff, the sleem flew over towards the new whirlpool, flying fifty feet above the tall walls of water surrounding it. Away and below they could see Gwendel's ship stop her sinking as the elven wizards aboard her stopped the water from flowing in, casting their spells that were even now causing the ship to repair itself, the missing stern to regrow like a lost tail off a small lizard.

"Maybe we needn't destroy it, " Mauklo suggested, "especially if we aren't able to."

"It sounds like he's suggesting something for his own benefit again, " Eldar said as he walked up the steps, Lindel and Sindar close behind him.

"That's taken as a given, " Sabu said, "but he is right in that I don't think we can kill it yet. It can probably just absorb anything we can throw at it."

"At least Gwen is safe, " Lindel said as he came up off the steps, "Sindar says they're sailing back to port now."

"That may be true, but I don't think that we are safe."

Candol was pointing a tired finger down to the bottom of the whirlpool. They looked to where he pointed and saw the Black Ship, a pillar of black now erupting beneath it, propelling it slowly up towards the top of the watery pit.

"We're in trouble again, " Eldar agreed. "Ideas?"

"As I was saying, " Mauklo said calmly, "maybe we don't need to destroy it."

"We could send it away!" Lindel caught on. "But where to? I wouldn't want to plague any place with the presence of this thing."

"Where it no doubt came from in the first place, " Mauklo answered as he walked over to the edge of the cabin's deck.

He looked out upon the watery walled whirlpool below, putting a hand out as if to point downward, but with his palm flat out instead.

"I have not the power to send it back directly, " Mauklo said, "but, as long as it's rising up... From the Outer Planes do I call thee. From the lower pits do I open thee. A Gate to below is asked for. Directed by my will, placed by my desire. Come!"

As the ship rose up, a round black glimmering formed above it. A large round circle, its face directed down at the rising ship, appearing not but a few scant feet above the top of its tallest mast.

"A Gate, " Sindar noted, "to send it back to the Lower Planes."

The ship rose up, touching the edge of the Gate before its dark crew seemed to notice their plight. The pillar growing beneath it seemed to slow down, trying to come to a stop. But it was too late, for they still rose up into the Gate, a dimensional portal that greedily sucked the dark force through as it tried vainly to back out. A high-pitched squeal was heard coming from it, a scream of protest, a cry of defiance.

With a loud rushing of air, the Gate sucked the ship through, depositing it to another dimension; of which one only Mauklo knew for certain.

And he wasn't going to tell anyone. Only he knew of the dark gift he had just now given, his precarious balance between events now still secure.

The Gate disappeared just as suddenly as it had appeared, vanishing out of sight. A final burst of blue light from Sheil-Bor(h)'s palm then brought down the walls of water, to fill up the whirlpool and once again become the still ocean of the night.

The Black Ship was gone.

"Well, " Eldar sighed, "that wasn't too difficult."

"For you maybe, " Mauklo replied.

A tap from Sabu's staff had them gradually floating slowly back down to the water's surface, gently depositing them upon the dark seas, his spell now released.

"At least it's gone now, " Sabu said. "Sindar, tell the elves that they won't be plagued by that ship anymore, and that we've enjoyed their hospitality. I'll tell the Captain that we'll just set sail from here."

"No, " Sindar shook his head, certain in what his psychic powers told him, "it will be back. We have but delayed it."

"When?" Lindel asked. "How soon will it return?"

"Not for a while yet, " Sindar said, reassuringly. "But I see it returning with more of its kind. A fleet."

"Just this one was trouble enough, " Candol said. "A fleet of them we could not as easily contain."

"This was just but a test, " Sheil-Bor(h) said. "A test of the strengths of the Black Ship as well as of ours. The time of the true coming of the Black Fleet is not yet at hand."

"Sindar, " Sabu asked, "how long do we have until-"

"Don't worry, " Sindar smiled, "when it does return, I see us as more able to handle them. We will not have to worry about their sight again until after the coming Donjflou."

"Well, that's a comfort at least, " Lindel said. "Sindar, could you tell Gwen good-bye for me?"

"Already done, " Sindar replied, "and she wishes you speedy return."

"Let's get going then, " Sabu said, walking over to the railing to look down upon the main deck, "Captain- make course for due south."

"I already have it laid out, sir, " came back the reply. "Setting sail now. Okay you sea slugs! You heard him; we've a ship to sail here..."

As the Captain shouted out his orders, the others started back down to the main deck and either away below for their cabins or out for a stroll upon the deck, as was their want. Dwingale came up from below decks to join Eldar in a passionate hug on the deck, while Candol went down below to rest, tired as he was from safely submerging an entire elven fleet for so long. Sabu looked out to sea, Sindar coming up by his side. The large curved sails twisted, all as one, as the crew steered the sleem onto her course.

"What do you see out there?" Sindar asked of his friend.

Sabu sighed, turning around slightly, before he answered.

"Nothing really, " he said, "I just wonder what he sees out there."

Sindar's eyes followed Sabu's nod, looking down towards the deck. Mauklo stood at the railing, staring far out to sea, wind pushing about his black hair.

He was smiling.